Yesterday I held my girl’s hand as tears dripped off her already snotty nose.
I shoved my own tears and snot deep down and mustered as much conviction as I could manage and whispered to her,
“It’s ok. You can do this. You’re really brave.”
She blinked a tear away and shook her head.
“I don’t even know what brave is” she said, as she buried her snotty face in my lap.
I was silenced for a second.
What the heck is brave?
Then I began gabbing on about random positive stuff. Then I switched to topics of distraction and finally rounded it out with a good bribe or three.
Cause that’s what we all do to get our kids through those short, but horrible moments that just have to be endured. Right? (Right???)
And of course, she was brave. Even if she didn’t know it.
But the question lingers…
What is ‘Brave’?
brave adjective
-ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage:
Oxford Dictionary online
Brave is doing something you don’t want to do but you know is right.
Brave is hanging on and keeping going, even when you are sure you can’t.
Brave is setting aside worry and guilt and making a bloody decision!
Brave is standing up and speaking out, even if you do it alone.
Brave is being kind, offering a second chance, trying to understanding, or extending a hand when no one else is.
Brave is silencing an inner voice to let another yell louder.
Brave is asking for help.
Brave is letting go.
Brave is singing into the darkness.
I am none of those things…
and all of those things.
What is brave?
{image – by VinothChandar via flickr}
Hi Kate,
Long-time-reader, first-time-poster. Love reading your columns and relate to your values and experiences.
This is a really interesting topic; one that I’ll put to my primary-school boys tonight over dinner.
When I was struggling through university, there were times when I reflected on the meaning of courage as I fought off the urge to drop-out. My definition of courage was “poise under pressure”, which helped me to focus on the right path or activity even when tempted to stray. I guess I liked it as a punchy alliteration, but poise may as foreign to pre-teens as the “brave”.
Thanks for your blogs,
James
Hi James, glad you decided to join in the conversation!
I really like ‘poise under pressure’… thought I don’t think I achieve it very often!
just WOW
I can really relate to this post Kate. We have had much sadness in our house this week and the kids have needed to keep on going.
Hope your girl and you are doing ok.
Nic
We are battling on here and hopefully will be better for it in some little way when we get to the end. I hope the same can be said for you and your gorgeous family. Much Love.
Love this. I am the same – all and none. I am brave for my children, but not so much for myself…but am learning to be more-so thanks to my children.
Kate I love how you manage to come up with something like this…and the remember posts…to make me think!! You are a thinker. I love being challenged too. Isn’t it funny that we take a word, like brave, and just use it..then when a person (said girl!) asks the simplest thing…you are rocked back into thinking more
Loved how you made her question of you about this,became another wonderful addition to my knowledge bank . Thanks Kate! Hope the family are getting a bit better day by day. Being home during this period of cold weather & no school grates a bit doesn’t it, Denyse x
I think brave is overcoming or conquering fear – yet another invaluable lesson.
every day there is an aspect of bravery I think. no matter how small. Hope your little girl is ok and u are also holding up. bravery is also being true and honest to yourself xx