to ask whats the bravest thing you’ve ever done?

[lemonpepsi]

as the title says

Started new job 2days after having 4 ribs broken by abusive ex H.... kicking me with his steel toe cap work boots. He attacked me to try and stop me taking the job!

The pain was really bad. I had to walk a 6 mile round trip pushing pram dropping DC2 off at nursery, then DC1 at school then carry on walking to work. There were times when I felt I would pass out from the pain.

I was not allowed to use the car even though it was parked outside all day and he walked 50yards to work.

I did not tell anyone at my new job about my injuries as I was scared of losing my new office job.

That same week I left him with only the second hand hand me down clothes I had on. I managed to get most of the DCs'(5 and 18m) clothes to a neighbours house.

I was 6stone by the time I left due to the stress of it all. I was 22 at the time.
The upside is that I worked hard and ended up with a good career and thankfully the kids were too young to remember any of the bad stuff.

Stopping at a fatal car accident before emergency services arrived....
What I saw.... Massively increased my respect for them.

Being threatened by a dangerous offender after he found out where I lived....i will never do locum work within 20 miles of my home now... The inner terror of knowing that this murderous sex offender had the knowledge and means to kill me and family... Horrible.. And just how vulnerable you can feel despite the brittle coating of professional training!

What I find saddening about all these amazing feats is that men don't have to do a lot of them. I'm over 6 foot, with a hefty frame and a face like Phil Mitchell. Oh, I was bullied as a child, but once the height and weight arrived I was safe. Many years ago, my then boss (size 8 and 5foot2) told me she NEVER felt safe anywhere. That was an eye opener. Hats off to all of you.

Very wise and empathetic words from DisgraceToTheYChromosome there.

I cared for my mum at home in the last four weeks of her life. The support from medical professionals was pretty much non existent, as her cancer was so advanced when they caught it that nobody had time to put a plan in place. I changed urine bags, washed her, attempted to feed her, timed and administered her meds, and in the final days kept up a constant vigil by her bed, hitting the 'boost' button on her morphine drive to stop her contorting in agony. When she died I called the funeral directors and arranged for her body to be removed.

I was 28 and previously lived a pretty carefree life skipping around London with my boyfriend and going to parties. Mum was 56. It changed my life forever.

I was gonna say walk across Carrick A Rede. It was very scary tbf. I stopped half way and we had to sing the school anthem to get me across.

Moved to Norway for a year by myself. Was scary and miserable for a good few weeks but in the end I loved it!

Disgrace I used to feel like your boss. I think feeling safe comes with experience. Sometimes you can front it out.

Had a baby despite knowing that childbirth could kill me.
She is now happy and healthy 11 year old.

Nothing, compared to these stories...

Donating blood even though I'm terrified of needles.

Intervened when I walked round a corner of a quiet street and came across a couple, he had his hands round her throat and was snarling into her face. I went mad, which was probably less brave and more stupid because I'm only 4'10. Got her away from him, she wouldn't contact the police but my yelling distracted him long enough for her to get away.

Moved to the USA to study for a year when I was 22. More recently, quitting a jib and moving to the other end of the country to be with my now husband. Three years later, I am so glad I did.

I flew to Australia with a 22 month old.

Confronted abusive ex getting him to admit to sexual assault and rape. He died of a heart attack 8 months later.

Nursed my darling child through cancer twice. Although I would describe it as the hardest thing rather than bravest as there was no choice involved.

SticksOutLikeDogsBalls your post made me really sad, your must of been very scared. That's the same age as my dd and I just couldn't imagine how frightened she would be.

Can I ask what happened and where did you go? Did you get the support you needed?

I flew to a foreign country having never flown or left the UK before, to stay with people I'd never met

I gave birth to my third child knowing he'd die as soon as he was born, because he was so premature. And then when I told my parents and parents in law that he'd been born and had died, I didn't tell any of them to fuck off when they criticised me for various things.

Quite a few things - moved to Japan when I was 21 then to London a year later on my own.

But more brave was to read a tribute that I’d written at my younger brothers funeral - he took his life when he was 29. I stood up on my own in front of about 300 people and kept it together for my reading and the service. Even more brave than that has been to learn to live without him here anymore. Breaks my heart each day and I have to be brave each day to just get on with things.

On a lighter note - reverse parking! Hate it and am rubbish at it but living with on street parking requires it!

I quit a shit job I hated and gave up my flat and moved away from all my friends to take a job in India on a whim. 2 months later, I met my now dh, also had recently moved to the city we were living in to take a job. 10 years, 2 dc and 2 international moves later, still very happily married and glad I did such a stupidly impulsive thing.

Nursed my dying mother at home where she wanted to be rather than a hospice. Didn’t regret it for a moment, awful though it was to watch someone die.

Got home from college age 17 to find my dad mid-overdose. A terrible sight to witness. He was an abusive alcoholic and my mum had finally filed for divorce but I loved him all the same, He left the house and ran away after I pleaded with him, begged him not to die, and I had to run after him and direct the ambulance through the park to where he was finally slumped.

He was sectioned to a mental health Ward where he met a new woman immediately, within six weeks he was wining and dining her family and ostentatious gifts to her grandchildren while I struggled with flashbacks, intrusive thoughts and self harm.

Holding it together to read a tribute my mum's funeral.
8 years later doing the same for my dad.
10 years later doing the same for my beautiful brother.
All from cancer and all far too young.

Gave up home and friends moving half way around the world to give my three children a stable childhood after their DF emptied bank account, reduced financial support to minimum, issued instructions and left. Refused to share child care just visited as and when it suited him, canceling when it didn’t.
This was after a decade of lies and waiting just long enough that my career was not recoverable. I was SAHM as he worked away. I lost out financially and socially in the long run but at least kids don’t have the disappointment of always being last in his priorities and the obligation of dancing to the their father’s tune in return for financial support. I can work here and my family are genuinely interested in their welfare. They aren’t just an achievement to be shown off then put back in their box.
I am miserable but justified as they are happy except when he throws a few crumbs to one then blanks them leaving the others wondering why he wouldn’t speak to them or provide the same as their sibling.

Brought charges against my abusive partner and turned up in court to face him.

Got on a plane leaving my parents my grandma everybody I loved not knowing when id see them agaib because of political reason, people were raping and killing people my race where I came from.