What’s something you did alone that you didn’t think was a big deal at the time but now when others mention it, you realise it was actually brave?

Exclusively pumping for the first year of my baby’s life when I couldn’t breastfeed her

Going on holiday with my husband when I’d just found out he was cheating, without
a) letting on that I knew or
b) murdering him
then secretly taking steps to file for divorce

and this week: removing a dead pigeon from the flat roof outside an upstairs window using a dustpan on a long stick (it had sadly crashed into the window and not lived to tell the tale). Horrible job!

Gave birth and raised my babies straight after loosing my wonderful mother. Looking back I am so proud of how I managed and hope she is proud of me as well.

Gave birth and looked after DD in hospital with no partner (and an abusive one at home) at 17 during lockdown. I just got on with it at the time but it’s horrifying to me now how alone I really was now that I am having my second with a new, absolutely amazing partner.

20 years ago I travelled solo through countries I wouldn’t travel alone (or in company) now - China, Russia, Peru, Bolivia….. still glad I did it at the time though!

Flew to Oregon to meet a penpal when I was 18yo. Back in the day of snail mail where you couldn't find out about any ones background, had no way to contact home except reverse charge phone calls and no location trackers etc. I had an amazing time but now I'm old(er) I can see all the potential dangers that I didn't see then!

Also, home births - the doctor made a fuss about me having my first baby at home because of my age but I went ahead anyway. I was 22yo and it went really well. I had all my four babies at home with no pain relief.

Travelling solo to Belarus,Russia etc... as a young 22 years old.
Jumping in enormous waves as a 6 years old with no parental supervision.
Starting big school at 10, travelling 15 miles by school bus and entering the huge grey fortress the school was (with 3000 pupils,a shock after my countryside school of 30!).
Travelling in an overnight train for a summer camp 300 miles away at 10. Staying at the camp for 4 weeks without seeing my family.
Saving my 6 years old sister from drowning as huge currents were pulling us towards whirlpools of water against rocks.
Walking in the snow through woods and fields for 2 h to go home after our school coach got stuck in snowdrift. Nicking mobile phones at the time. My feet were blue when I arrived home.
Picking up my children from school and carrying on as normal despite having just learnt some horrifying family news.
Many times when my son had a meltdown (autism). Staying calm and collected despite wanting to collapse in a puddle.

Most of these situations mean I didn't really have a choice in being brave or not (apart travelling solo and going on the summer camp, which I wanted to do).

I'm not sure I would ever be brave enough to do a parachute jump or something else like that.

Cycled across a continent on my own. Had never owned a bike before my trip. Learnt the beauty of freedom on 2 wheels and the kindness of strangers.

Yes i kind of agree.

I went to uni in europe which looking back was a huge deal and my best friend cried like i was dying but i was pretty chilled about it.

Moved house to an area I didn't know, knew not a soul there, no job, just moved far away from my friends and family.

Spinal surgery for cauda equina and recovery alone

Snap me too… but I was in a hospital in Ireland ran by Nuns and nurses, as a single parent it was terrible. It’s taught me I can do anything I put my mind too.

Had triplets all alone (sole parent), work full time, travel overseas somewhere with them every year and go on uk adventures each holiday too. Teenagers now and it’s always been just us

You are brave @BodysBroken and I hope that your bravery is rewarded with as many moments of joy as possible

But it's not brave if you weren't daunted or failed to appreciate the risks.

The brave are those who are afraid but still speak or act.

Totally misses the point of the thread. But

DP got a text from his mum a couple of days ago saying how proud she is of him and how he is so incredible and so brave and how she loves him oh so much. What did he do? Took his daughter to A&E with a raging fever. Just oh so incredible for being… you know, a parent.

I jumped in between 2 massive blokes in a pub when I was around 15 - one had grabbed a picture off the wall and smashed it around the other guys head and was about to do it again until I jumped in the middle.

I didn’t think anything of it at the time, I just knew I needed to stop him. Only now I’m older do I think that was either really brave or really stupid (it was my parents pub, I was pretty confident no one was going to hurt the landlords daughter).

Gave birth in my kitchen

Went to Paris on my own at 17!

Moved to a Middle Eastern country when I was 3 months shy of my 25th birthday, with an almost one year old. I knew two people, my DH’s boss and his wife, whom I’d met twice. It was completely out of my comfort zone and I hated it for the first 6 months but ended up making some lovely friends and stayed there for almost 4 years. I’m not sure it was necessarily a brave thing to do but I look back and realise it was such a good move work wise for DH and financially for us both plus we learned such a lot about ourselves.

This was very brave. Much love to you x

I emigrated to the USA on Christmas Eve in 1979. Landed at JFK in a blizzard, and newly wed husband arrived 4 hours late, thanks to a traffic pile up. He was the only person I knew in the USA, but the hours waiting were scary. I had no money of my own to get back, although in retrospect, I know my mum would have found it. The days after that were adjustment, but a few days later I took acquaintances into NYC on public transport, and then I knew I was a competent adult. They had lived 30 miles away for 25 years, and I was the person who understood the subway map!
That moment crystallised my self-belief.

The year my husband died I went to Nashville on my own for the country music awards. It was wonderful I met so many lovely people who loved me just because I was Scottish! The awards night was brilliant I saw the Eagles live and the atmosphere was something I’ll never forget it was daunting at first but you just have to carry on

I travelled to a war ravaged city by myself. The fighting had stopped, but travel was regarded as dangerous. In the end it was rather straightforward, but when I think about the risks I shudder.

Left home at 17 and moved 3000 miles away.
Driving a motorbike.
But - my favourite - walked on a glacier in high heels 😊

Pregnancy, birth & motherhood