History Main / ApronMatron

* Abigail "Ma" "the ''ComicBook/RedTornado''" Hunkel in the ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'', which back in the 40s was combined with SweetPollyOliver.
* Monstress from the Postboot ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes''. She wasn't any older than the others, but she was a ''lot'' bigger, and had a motherly attitude towards her teammates, often calling them "dear."
* Thorn's grandmother, Gran'ma Ben, from ''ComicBook/{{Bone}}''. Of course, [[spoiler:she ''is'' a Queen.]]
* Maw Broon, from the [[UsefulNotes/BritishNewspapers Sunday Post]] comic strip ''ComicStrip/TheBroons'', is probably the example that every Scot will recognise immediately. She has eight kids and her own [[{{Defictionalization}} published]] [[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maw-Broons-Cookbook-Every-Special/dp/1902407458 cookbook]].
* Miss Hart, Midvale Orphanage's headmistress from the ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' comics, was a very plump, doting and headstrong middle-aged woman.

* When the grades of ComicBook/MilesMorales start dropping, his mom called in her own mom (Miles' grandma) to straighten his life with her iron fist.

When it comes to how the relates to her kin, she is usually a clan's diplomat (especially if she's a {{Yakuza}} leader's consort or TheDon's wife) or a ReasonableAuthorityFigure. While she will encourage her sons to go out and become [[IWantToBeARealMan real men]] like their father, her daughters will often be held to a very high moral standard when it comes [[MyGirlIsNotASlut to their virginity]] and will be thoroughly taught domesticity and keeping the clan's social bonds tight. In other words, [[FollowInMyFootsteps trained to become tough mothers just like her]].

* Martha from ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds''. She's such an overbearing MamaBear that the two main characters, Yusei Fudo and Jack Atlas, are reduced to trouble-making ten year olds in her presence. And only she's got the guts to pinch Yusei by the ear.
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': Lenora, the Nacrene City Gym Leader, seems to be borderline this, though she isn't shown to have children (she is in charge of the museum, though). The apron, though, only appears on her in the Japanese verison of the anime and her video game sprite, as the animators feared US viewers would see her as a 'mammy' stereotype, since she's dark-skinned.

* When the grades of ComicBook/MilesMorales start dropping, his mom called in her own mom (so, Miles, grandma) to straight his life with her iron fist.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', Grandma Wu is like this being the matriarch of the Lee family who is tough but fair on the younger females of her family.

* ''Film/ImGonnaGitYouSucka''. Ma Bell, who is also a MamaBear. On two occasions she singlehandedly takes on several evil henchman at once to protect her (grown) son.

* Julia Moore in ''Film/WeWereSoldiers''. She was a magnificient TeamMom to all the other [[MyGirlBackHome Girls Back Home]] during the battle.

* While a minor character, Gertrude from ''Film/ToCatchAThief'' is a very good example. She acts like John's mother, harrasses the French police when they come to arrest him under false pretenses so he can get away, helps him when he's on the run, and generally refuses to be intimidated by the murderers, thieves and criminals targeting John. Summed up in a single line from John.
--> '''John''': Gertrude has an exceedingly light touch. She strangled a German general once, without a sound.

* ''Literature/TheBridgeKingdomArchives'': Coralyn is the unofficial ruler of the Maridrinian harem and all the other wives defer to her. She is also shrewd, tough and [[MamaBear would do anything]] to protect the harem's children. Silas, who is her husband in name only, since he "inherited" her from his father, dislikes her immensely but also respects her.

* ''Literature/DarkShores'': Lady Calorian. As a widowed wife of the previous High Lord Calorian she should not even enter the council chamber and yet she walks in, shoos her eldest son (the current High Lord) from his chair and then calmly proceeds to order all gathered aristocrats (including the Princess) around. When her youngest son Killian dares to suggest she should evacuate, she just arches her eyebrows. She is also probably the only ReasonableAuthorityFigure around.

* ''Literature/TortallUniverse'': Chenaol of the ''Literature/TrickstersDuet'' rules her kitchen with a firm hand. She is also the armsmistress for the raka rebellion, because a chef has many legitimate reasons to be handling lots of sharp metal objects.

* The ideal Barrayaran woman in the ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'' was this. Cordelia played along, but did not necessarily just StayInTheKitchen.

** Glenda was introduced as a contrast. A mid-30s newlywed with different attitudes. After more than twenty years in the show she was clearly being assimilated by the others.

* Peggy Olson's staunch Irish Catholic mother, Katherine, on ''Series/MadMen''. Katherine tends to be very tough on her youngest daughter, who had a baby out of wedlock, and has plenty of Catholic guilt to share.
** Henry Francis's mother, Pauline, is an older, WASP-y, and upper class version of this trope. She does care about her family but is very intimidating.

* In "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN6-OPvpe9E My Mother Is from Morocco]]", an Israeli song celebrating traditional Jewish-Moroccan folk traditions, the speaker is a young girl praising her mother who comes off as this: after every family meal she arranges, the family members come to kiss her hand in turn, and everyone turns to her for a folk remedy for whatever ailment they have[[note]]Some [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arak_(drink) araq]] as ointment for pain in general, cupping therapy for the common cold, and a drop of cognac for tooth aches, in case you were curious.[[/note]]. The song ends with the girl saying she knows she’ll be just like her mother when she has a family of her own.

* In ''VideoGame/BritannicPatronessOfTheMediterranean'', if you break the game in Tour Mode to explore the still in-development spaces, you'll chance upon an ImageMacro of director Tom Lynskey dressed as one of these and chastising you for being where you're not supposed to be.

* Sophie Rosen from ''Webcomic/BadForSleep'',is shown to be an extremely caring mom who tries her best to fulfill her daughters' goals.

When it comes to how the relates to her kin, she is usually a clan's diplomat (especially if she's a {{Yakuza}} leader's consort or TheDon's wife) or a ReasonableAuthorityFigure. While she will encourage her sons to go out and become [[IWantToBeARealMan real men]] like their father, her daughters will often be held to a very high moral standard when it comes [[MyGirlIsNotASlut to their virginity]] and will be thoroughly taught domesticity and keeping the clan's social bonds tight. In other words, [[FollowInMyFootsteps trained to become tough matriarchs like herself]].

Can overlap with MamaBear, and must be written carefully to avoid {{Flanderization}} into MyBelovedSmother. Compare ThePatriarch, whom she may be married to. See also the {{Mammy}}, the AlmightyMom and NeverMessWithGranny.

* Abuelita Elena, the daughter of the eponymous character in ''WesternAnimation/{{Coco}}'', is the tough matron of the Rivera family, still faithful to their ban on music until her change of heart.

Not all [[EvilMatriarch Matriarchs are malicious]], and not all {{Mama Bear}}s are young. These [[CoolOldLady grand dames]] are the grandmothers, aunts, and headmistresses who care for their children, students, or even employees with an iron discipline the army would envy. The Apron Matron has a [[LargeHam larger than life,]] imposing presence and leads with a personality more forceful than a wrecking ball.

If there's combat to be had, she can [[AlmightyMom take on a brigade on her own]], even chasing out ninjas armed with naught but a broom. (Sadly, she'll often be captured and bound).

-->Here was this good, respected widow lady of advancing years, who had guided my infant steps, heard my prayers at night, and read to me from the Billy and Bunny Book, sitting there looking like the matriarch of some soap-opera family of Texas tycoons, and apparently concealing the combined talents of the Scarlet Pimpernel and a Mafia godmother. I didn’t know where to begin.

* Miyabi Kagurazaka from ''Manga/AiYoriAoshi'' is a somewhat younger version.

* ''Manga/DNA2'': Played mostly for laughs with Junta's mother Chiyo Momonari.

* Miss Bragg in ''Film/ASongIsBorn''.

* Gytha "Nanny" Ogg from the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novels. Her daughters-in-law might have [[EvilMatriarch a wholly different view of her]], though.

* Mam Boswell of ''Series/{{Bread}}''.
* Thelma Harper in skits on ''Series/TheCarolBurnettShow'' and the sitcom ''Series/MamasFamily''.
* Many of the "Pepperpots" in ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus''.
* T'Pau, a ferocious old Vulcan tribal elder in ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}'''s "[[Recap/StarTrekTheOriginalSeriesS2E1AmokTime Amok Time]]".
* Ruth from ''Series/SixFeetUnder''.

* Ms. Beakley from ''[[WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017 DuckTales]]''.
* Nanny from ''WesternAnimation/CountDuckula''.
* Mrs. Slaghoople, [[WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones Wilma Flintstone]]'s mother.
* A waitress who helps the gang out in the ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'' episode "[[Recap/Ben10S4E5Ben4GoodBuddy Ben 4 Good Buddy]]".
* "Sugah Mama" from ''WesternAnimation/TheProudFamily''.

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* As quoted above, Úrsula Iguaran-Buendia from ''Literature/OneHundredYearsOfSolitude''. At least until she was confined to her bed due to old age.

* Many characters from the British film series ''Film/{{Carry On|Series}}''. Notably whenever Creator/HattieJacques is playing a part of [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Matron]] in ''Film/CarryOnNurse'', ''Film/CarryOnDoctor'', ''Film/CarryOnCamping'', ''Film/CarryOnAgainDoctor'', and in the movie ''Film/CarryOnMatron''.

* Plum Kitaki from ''VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney''fits most of the details in the original post to a T. Especially the bit about being armed with a broom (that has a katana hidden inside).

[[folder:Films]]

* A waitress who helps the gang out in the ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'' episode "Ben 4 Good Buddy".

* ''Fanfic/AgreementAndDisputation'': Holmes mentions Mrs. Hudson's formidability on more than one occasion, at one point suggesting she would be able to throw him out on his ear if she chose. Despite his stubbornness and experience with dangerous criminals, even the detective finds her somewhat daunting.

%%* The archetype of The Virtuous Woman in [[Literature/TheBible Proverbs]].

Expect her to be motherly, caring, strict, and kind. Also, probably [[StoutStrength "plump" yet strong]]. If married, she's likely to have a HenpeckedHusband, though she's usually [[DeterminedWidow widowed]] or a MaidenAunt or a mere OldMaid who adopted orphans. And if she's married to ThePatriarch, this power couple is definitely a force to be reckoned with in whichever community they may head.

Expect her to be motherly, caring, strict, and kind. Also, probably [[StoutStrength "plump" yet strong]]. If married, she's likely to have a HenpeckedHusband, though she's usually [[DeterminedWidow widowed]] or a MaidenAunt or a mere ChristmasCake who adopted orphans. And if she's married to ThePatriarch, this power couple is definitely a force to be reckoned with in whichever community they may head.

* Nora Walker in ''Series/BrothersAndSisters''.
* Marie from ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond''.
* Madea from the Tyler Perry plays/films/television shows etc.

* Mrs Patmore in ''Series/DowntonAbbey'' is a very literal example, as she is almost always wearing an apron.

* A character in ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': Lenora, the Nacrene City Gym Leader, seems to be borderline this, though she isn't shown to have children (she is in charge of the museum, though). The apron, though, only appears on her in the Japanese verison of the anime and her video game sprite, as the animators feared US viewers would see her as a 'mammy' stereotype, since she's dark-skinned.
* Played mostly for laughs with Junta's mother Chiyo Momonari from ''Manga/{{DNA 2}}''.

* ''ComicBook/NewGods'': Granny Goodness. A real doting sort, this one. A [[ShadowArchetype villainous version]] of this trope. [[LarynxDissonance Voiced by Ed Asner]] (in an homage to old Boris Karloff movies) in the DCAU, [[AnthropomorphicPersonification Granny is quite literally child abuse incarnate.]] Her specialty is warping the minds of children with [[ColdBloodedTorture torture]] and brainwashing to become {{Tyke Bomb}}s, while saying and ''genuinely'' believing that she's actually being kind to them by doing so.

* ''ComicBook/RobinSeries'': Mrs. [=McIlvaine=] is the Drake's strict older housekeeper who bosses both Tim and her employer Jack around if she thinks they're out of line.

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[[quoteright:185:[[Series/LastOfTheSummerWine Greenman]]]]
[[caption-width-right:185:Tough, old and knows her stuff.]]

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->''"But don't forget that as long as God gives you life we will still be mothers and no matter how revolutionary you may be, we have the right to pull down your pants and give you a whipping at the first sign of disrespect."''
-->-- '''Úrsula''', ''Literature/OneHundredYearsOfSolitude''

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* Nanny from ''[[WesternAnimation/CountDuckula]]''.