History Main / DontTellMama

* ''MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': [[spoiler: [[AlphaBitch Diamond Tiara]]]] and [[spoiler: [[RichBitch Silver Spoon]]]] are ''terrified'' of their mothers finding out about their attitude problems.

* ''TheSimpsons'' provides the page quote. When they went to Florida during Spring Break, the local sheriff was disappointed with Joe C. (the foul mouthed little person who toured with Kid Rock). A parody as much as anything, given the utterly inconsequential matter.[[/folder]]

* Tohru's mom in ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' is unaware that her son is working as a thug for Valmont and not knowing that the latter is a DiabolicalMastermind.
** Well she knew OF Valmont but just thought he was a rich gentleman. It would seem like a HUGE step down to go from bodyguard to a multi-millionare to storekeep.

Everyone knows that EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas. And since that's the case, a lot of bad men, whether they might be gangsters, ProfessionalKiller, {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s, [[HitmanWithAHeart Hitmen With A Heart]], [[GentlemanThief Gentleman Thieves]] or {{Anti Hero}}es in a morally questionable job will try to do their utmost to keep their mothers from knowing what it is they ''really'' do. This can even extend to getting enemies to join in on TheMasquerade in order to keep her blissfully unaware.

Everyone knows that EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas. And since that's the case, a lot of bad men, whether they might be gangsters, CareerKillers, {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s, [[HitmanWithAHeart Hitmen With A Heart]], [[GentlemanThief Gentleman Thieves]] or {{Anti Hero}}es in a morally questionable job will try to do their utmost to keep their mothers from knowing what it is they ''really'' do. This can even extend to getting enemies to join in on TheMasquerade in order to keep her blissfully unaware.

** And [[RetCon when she died the first time]] she revealed that she'd known for quite some time, and was very proud of him.[[/folder]]

* Subversion: Tony's mom in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto Liberty City Stories''. She knows and approves of his job, and even puts a contract on him when she's dissatisfied with his advancement.
* ''{{SWAT 4}}.'' The serial killer in the second mission sometimes reacts to being handcuffed with this phrase.
** Ofcourse the chances are that you already tazed or mazed her at this point.

* ''DeadRising'': "[[spoiler:Don't tell Jessie about this]]".
* ''{{Haze}}'': After you fatally wound [[spoiler:Duvall]], he apparently realizes, for the first time, all the atrocities he's committed while being high on nectar. His final words?

* In ''{{Tekken}} 5'', in one of her win poses, Lili bends down to the camera (perspective of the defeated opponent) and says

Some criminals doing this often like to think of themselves as TheDutifulSon, providing for and protecting their mother or family while also keeping the knowledge of where the family's prosperity comes from secret, but their true status will depend on their other actions, as the character in question may be anything from a CompleteMonster to a {{Delinquent}} to an AntiVillain. In many cases this trope is merely a source of {{Wangst}} or PetTheDog moments, but when the secret is sufficiently important, it can turn into PoorCommunicationKills.

* In one episode of ''Series/{{Brimstone}}'', Zeke finds out that Gilbert Jax, the guy who raped his wife, is one of the [[CompleteMonster 113 souls that escaped from Hell]] and that he has to find and send back. He also finds out that Jax has started with his old pattern again. He finds out that Jax is living with mother again, and tracks him to the mother's house. There he encounters the mother and talks to her, although he doesn't have the heart to tell her the truth about her son. Jax returns home at that point, and screams that "Getting my mother involved in this is low, Stone". Zeke defeats Jax, but afterwards still doesn't have the heart to tell his mother the truth, and lets her believe that he sent her son back to Heaven instead of Hell.

* AntiVillain variation in MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha, where the Wolkenritter keep their gathering Linker Cores to complete the Book of Darkness and save Hayate's life a secret from Hayate, knowing that she would not approve. She eventually finds out about what they were doing during the final battle; the Wolkenritter apologize, and Hayate forgives them.

* Lieutenant David Elliot Hanneth Solomon, from {{Soda}}, is a cop faking to be a priest for the sake of his beloved cardiac mother.

** For that matter, Peter Parker has gone to great lengths to hide his SuperHero identity from his Aunt May, who is as good as his mother. In at least one version May has arachnophobia and is thus not overly fond of Spiderman, hence Peter's actions.

* Inverted at the end of the first Film/SpiderMan film. "Peter... don't tell Harry." It takes an actor of Willem Defoe's caliber to do all the things the Green Goblin did in that film and still make that last request a TearJerker - and it's doubly poignant when you realize that Peter honored that request. Led to PoorCommunicationKills in the following two movies.

* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', when Hermione finds the Weasley Twins testing out their home-made joke candies on younger students, Hermione demands that they stop. They taunt her by saying "Or what? You'll put us in detention?" Hermione coldly responds with "No. I'll write your mother." This scares the Twins so badly that they immediately comply, an action that has never been seen before or since.

* Odd inversion: Peter Wiggin of EndersGame and the '' Ender's Shadow'' sequels, rather than having to hide an evil secret, is reluctant to let his parents find out that he has a secret identity as the great [[TheChessmaster Chess]][[BigGood master]] named Locke. When he tells his parents, it turns out that they already knew; and as it happens, Bean and Sister Carlotta [[IKnowYouKnowIKnow knew that Peter's parents knew before Peter knew it.]]

* On TheWire Omar Little becomes enraged at rival gangsters after they violate the Sunday truce and blow his cover to his elderly grandmother.

* Invoked in Simcopter; one of the phrases the player can shout at criminals to distract them is, "Does your mother know what you're doing?"

* Lieutenant David Elliot Hanneth Solomon, from Soda, is a cop faking to be a priest for the sake of his beloved cardiac mother.

* In the original ''The Hood'' mini Parker Robbins keeps lying to his mother about him being a SuperVillain. Helps that she has Alzheimer's and doesn't remember when he changes his story.

* During Norman Osbourne/The Green Goblin's original death in ''{{Spiderman}}'' his last words were a plea to Spiderman not to tell his son Harry Osbourne that he'd been the goblin. This carried over to the first Spiderman film.

* Inverted at the end of the first SpiderMan film. "Peter... don't tell Harry." It takes an actor of Willem Defoe's caliber to do all the things the Green Goblin did in that film and still make that last request a TearJerker - and it's doubly poignant when you realize that Peter honored that request. Led to PoorCommunicationKills in the following two movies.

* Inverted on ''Wiseguy'', where federal deep-cover agent Vincent Terranova is forced to mislead his mother into believing he's a criminal. He's deeply troubled by how disappointed she is in her "no-good" son, and immensely relieved when she eventually learns the truth.

* ''SWAT 4.'' The serial killer in the second mission sometimes reacts to being handcuffed with this phrase.

* ''Haze'': After you fatally wound [[spoiler:Duvall]], he apparently realizes, for the first time, all the atrocities he's committed while being high on nectar. His final words?

[[folder: Comics]]

-->'''Mello:''' [[OhCrap Light?]]

* On {{The Wire}} Omar Little becomes enraged at rival gangsters after they violate the Sunday truce and blow his cover to his elderly grandmother.

* Spy turned ''Series/TheATeam'' style gun for hire Michael Westen from ''BurnNotice'' spent a long time trying to keep his mother in the dark about things, but ultimately had to break the news to her. Since then, she has played small roles in his operations, even once getting information out of a captive after Michael's interrogation techniques didn't work. Despite this, she wishes he would settle down, and the things she is asked to do sometimes unsettle her.

* Subversion: Tony's mom in ''GrandTheftAuto Liberty City Stories''. She knows and approves of his job, and even puts a contract on him when she's dissatisfied with his advancement.

** Ofcourse the chances are that you already tazed or mazed her at this point.

[[folder:RealLife]]

* ArtemisFowl really doesn't want his mother to know he's turned to a life of crime in order to sustain his family and continue the search for his DisappearedDad, even if she does suspect he takes after his father in this aspect.

* In ''FanFic/ConstantTemptation'' Mello, Matt, and Near find themselves in a position where [[AccidentalPervert they have to confess to spying]] on [[ParentalSubstitute L and Light]]. [[spoiler: They don't want L to know about it, even if it means facing Kira's wrath]]:

* ''DeathNote'' has Light Yagami, the protagonist of the series, who tries not to let his parents and sister know that he is Kira.

** For that matter, Peter Parker has gone to great lengths to hide his SuperHero identity from his Aunt May, who is as good as his mother. In at least one version this troper remembers May having arachnophobia and thus not being overly fond of Spiderman, hence Peter's actions.
** Though in another, she's known for quite some time, and is very proud of him. (The first time she died, I think?)[[/folder]]

** Though that's probably more for practical reasons than emotional ones.

* Drakken's mom was probably the single funniest thing in ''KimPossible'', one of the reasons for this being that she ''completely believes'' he is a radio talk show host. This despite the fact that he has a degree in robotics, not psychiatry. Then again, anyone ''would'' want to cover up the fact that their world domination schemes were foiled by teenagers.

[[redirect:{{ptitleqt3iow07}}]]

->'''Sheriff:''' All right now, boys, that's enough. Kid Rock, that's not like you. And Joe C., would your mama want you stretching out that sweatshirt like that?
->'''Joe C.:''' No, sir. Please don't tell mama.
->--''TheSimpsons''

->'''Jade:''' Doesn't she know Valmont is a thief?
->'''Tohru:''' No, and please don't tell her.
->--''JackieChanAdventures''

Everyone knows that EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas. And since that's the case, a lot of bad men, whether they might be gangsters, CareerKillers, {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s, [[HitmanWithAHeart Hitmen With A Heart]], [[GentlemanThief Gentleman Thieves]] or {{Anti Hero}}es in a morally questiobable job will try to do their utmost to keep their mothers from knowing what it is they ''really'' do. This can even extend to getting enemies to join in on TheMasquerade in order to keep her blissfully unaware.

Naturally there are many variations on this, as the character in question may be trying to keep the truth from a father, sibling, {{Nakama}}, etc.

Some criminals doing this often like to think of themselves as TheDutifulSon, providing for and protecting their mother or family while also keeping the knowledge of where the family's prosperity comes from secret, but their true status will depend on their other actions, as the character in question may be anything from a CompleteMonster to a {{Delinquent}} to an AntiVillain. In many cases this trope is merely a source of {{Wangst}} or PetTheDog moments, but when the secret is sufficiently important, it can turn into PoorCommunicationKills.

Of course, plenty of the mothers know what it is their sons do, they just either are in denial about it or not saying anything about it for the sake of family peace and quiet.

Often requires at least some ParentalObliviousness in order to work. Most characters that engage in this do so because they desperately crave hearing those magic words "[[SoProudOfYou I'm so proud of you]]" and don't want to make it go away.
!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* There's a variation in ''CodeGeass'', where Lelouch tries to keep his alter ego secret from his sister.
* AntiVillain variation in MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha, where the Wolkenritter keep their gathering Linker Cores to complete the Book of Darkness and save Hayate's life a secret from Hayate, knowing that she would not approve. She eventually finds out about what they were doing during the final battle; the Wolkenritter apologize, and Hayate forgives them.[[/folder]]


[[folder: Comics]]
* Lieutenant David Elliot Hanneth Solomon, from Soda, is a cop faking to be a priest for the sake of his beloved cardiac mother.
* In the original ''SinCity'' comics, Marv tells his mother some lies to reassure her about himself and why he's there that night.
* In the original ''The Hood'' mini Parker Robbins keeps lying to his mother about him being a SuperVillain. Helps that she has Alzheimer's and doesn't remember when he changes his story.
* Sandman, a ''FantasticFour'' and ''SpiderMan'' villain, ''completely'' kept his mother in the dark about being a villain. He even explained that he changed his name when he became a criminal so she wouldn't find out.
* During Norman Osbourne/The Green Goblin's original death in ''{{Spiderman}}'' his last words were a plea to Spiderman not to tell his son Harry Osbourne that he'd been the goblin. This carried over to the first Spiderman film.
** For that matter, Peter Parker has gone to great lengths to hide his SuperHero identity from his Aunt May, who is as good as his mother. In at least one version this troper remembers May having arachnophobia and thus not being overly fond of Spiderman, hence Peter's actions.
** Though in another, she's known for quite some time, and is very proud of him. (The first time she died, I think?)[[/folder]]


[[folder:Film]]
* Heavy subversion in ''AmericanGangster''. Frank Lucas spends the whole film treating his mother like an unwitting InnocentBystander, but towards the end of the movie she tells him that she never asked him where all the family's prosperity came from just so that she wouldn't have to listen to him lie to her. Furthermore, she goes on a near HannibalLecture about he's responsible for all the other members of his family being in the drug trade, because they never would have gotten into it if not for him. However she says that all of them, including her, will walk out on him if he does something as suicidally dumb as declare war on the cops, which was exactly what Frank was planning to do at the moment.
* In RushHour Detective Carter gets certain information from his criminal cousin by threatening to arrest him, thus notifying their Aunt Bootsie about his dealings.
--> '''Carter:''' Luke, I know what it is you do, and the only reason why I ain't busted your ass is because you're my cousin... and it'd kill Aunt Bootsie.
--> '''Luke:''' ...Why you gotta put Aunt Bootsie in this?
* There was one part in the movie ''{{Bulletproof}}'' where Damon Wayans' character goes along in lying to the mother of Adam Sandler's character in order to reassure her. Note that he blames Sandler's character for ''shooting him in the head'', which shows both how far this trope and RuleOfFunny can stretch.
* This is parodied in ''JohnnyDangerously''. It's painfully obvious to ''everybody'' (including the pope) except for Johnny's mother and his brother that he's a mob boss.
* In ''{{Scream}}'' when Sidney informs Stu (who is one of the killers, and is already bleeding to death) that she's called the police about the murders, he pathetically breaks down and cries "My mom and dad are gonna be so mad!"
* IIRC, Joe Pesci's character from ''{{Goodfellas}}'' lied to his mother about why he and the guys were there that night to keep her from finding out that [[HairTriggerTemper he'd just killed someone for no real reason]].
* Inverted at the end of the first SpiderMan film. "Peter... don't tell Harry." It takes an actor of Willem Defoe's caliber to do all the tings the Green Goblin did in that film and still make that last request a TearJerker - and it's doubly poignant when you realize that Peter honored that request. Led to PoorCommunicationKills in the following two movies.
[[/folder]]


[[folder:Literature]]
* In ''HarryPotter'', when Hermione finds the Weasley Twins testing out their home-made joke candies on younger students, Hermione demands that they stop. They taunt her by saying "Or what? You'll put us in detention?" Hermione coldly responds with "No. I'll write your mother." This scares the Twins so badly that they immediately comply, an action that has never been seen before or since.
* Odd inversion: Peter Wiggin of EndersGame and the '' Ender's Shadow'' sequels, rather than having to hide an evil secret, is reluctant to let his parents find out that he has a secret identity as the great [[TheChessmaster Chess]][[BigGood master]] named Locke. When he tells his parents, it turns out that they already knew; and as it happens, Bean and Sister Carlotta [[IKnowYouKnowIKnow knew that Peter's parents knew before Peter knew it.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action TV]]
* Spy turned [[TheATeam A-Team]] style gun for hire Michael Weston from ''BurnNotice'' spent a long time trying to keep his mother in the dark about things, but ultimately had to break the news to her.
* A running gag on ''HillStreetBlues'' was Belker constantly booking the same criminal for various minor offenses and the criminal always giving him a fake name. This went on for years, until the criminal was accidentally caught in the crossfire of a gunfight he had nothing to do with. He was mortally wounded and asked Belker to call his mother, finally giving Belker his real name. Belker did so, telling the criminal's mother that her son had been a fine, upstanding citizen.
* In one episode of ''{{Brimstone}}'', Zeke finds out that Gilbert Jax, the guy who raped his wife, is one of the [[CompleteMonster 113 souls that escaped from Hell]] and that he has to find and send back. He also finds out that Jax has started with his old pattern again. He finds out that Jax is living with mother again, and tracks him to the mother's house. There he encounters the mother and talks to her, although he doesn't have the heart to tell her the truth about her son. Jax returns home at that point, and screams that "Getting my mother involved in this is low, Stone". Zeke defeats Jax, but afterwards still doesn't have the heart to tell his mother the truth, and lets her believe that he sent her son back to Heaven instead of Hell.
* Inverted on ''Wiseguy'', where federal deep-cover agent Vincent Terranova is forced to mislead his mother into believing he's a criminal. He's deeply troubled by how disappointed she is in her "no-good" son, and immensely relieved when she eventually learns the truth.
* On MalcolmInTheMiddle, Hal and Lois leave the boys home alone for the weekend, and a drug gang commandeers the boys' house for their own purposes. The boys try to think of ideas to get the gang to leave, and Dewey (the youngest brother) suggests telling their mothers. This sounds like a childish idea when Reese and Malcolm first hear it, but it turns out to work perfectly: the gang members' mothers show up, and the whole incident induces enough shame in the gang members that they abandon their plans to take over the main characters' house.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]
* ''{{Cabaret}}'' is the TropeNamer: the so-titled number features Sally Bowles, decked out in a [[NaughtyNuns Naughty Nun]] outfit, singing about how her mother thinks that she's a real nun at a convent in France while she's really living up the seedy life. The trope itself is not actually invoked in the story however, merely in the performance of the song.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Videogames]]
* Subversion: Tony's mom in ''GrandTheftAuto Liberty City Stories''. She knows and approves of his job, and even puts a contract on him when she's dissatisfied with his advancement.
* ''SWAT 4.'' The serial killer in the second mission sometimes reacts to being handcuffed with this phrase.
** Ofcourse the chances are that you already tazed or mazed her at this point.
* Invoked in Simcopter; one of the phrases the player can shout at criminals to distract them is, "Does your mother know what you're doing?"
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Drakken's mom was probably the single funniest thing in ''KimPossible'', one of the reasons for this being that she ''completely believes'' he is a radio talk show host. This despite the fact that he has a degree in robotics, not psychiatry. Then again, anyone ''would'' want to cover up the fact that their world domination schemes were foiled by teenagers.
* Tohru's mom in ''JackieChanAdventures'' is unaware that her son is working as a thug for Valmont and not knowing that the latter is a DiabolicalMastermind.
** Well she knew OF Valmont but just thought he was a rich gentleman. It would seem like a HUGE step down to go from bodyguard to a multi-millionare to storekeep.
* ''TheSimpsons'' provides the page quote. When they went to Florida during Spring Break, the local sheriff was disappointed with Joe C. (the foul mouthed little person who toured with Kid Rock). A parody as much as anything, given the utterly inconsequential matter.[[/folder]]
<<|FamilyTropes|>>
<<|TheParentTrope|>>
<<|CrimeAndPunishmentTropes|>>

Some criminals doing this often like to think of themselves as TheDutifulSon, providing for and protecting their mother or family while also keeping the knowledge of where the family's prosperity comes from secret, but their true status will depend on their other actions, as the character in question may be anything from a CompleteMonster to a {{Delinquent}} to an AntiVillain.

* Inverted at the end of the first SpiderMan film. "Peter... don't tell Harry." It takes an actor of Willem Defoe's caliber to do all the tings the Green Goblin did in that film and still make that last request a TearJerker - and it's doubly poignant when you realize that Peter honored that request.

* Peter Wiggin of EndersGame and the '' Ender's Shadow'' sequels is reluctant to let his parents find out that he has a secret identity as the great [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]] named Locke. When he tells his parents, it turns out that they already knew; and as it happens, Bean and Sister Carlotta [[IKnowYouKnowIKnow knew that Peter's parents knew before Peter knew it.]]