History Main / ParentalSubstitute

* ''Cloak and Dagger'' features super-spy Jack Flack, and [[ImaginaryFriend imaginary mentor]] who amazingly enough looks like Davey Osborne's real dad.

* ''Oboe'' is a ParentalSubstitute for Hamel in ''ViolinistOfHameln''. It is not obvious for a long, long time, thanks to the Hamel's extreme JerkassFacade and Oboe mostly keeping in the background (not without a reason), but in the end Hamel even directly states that Oboe is only being he'll ever call "father" when confronting his BigBad [[EvilOverlord biological]] [[CompleteMonster parent]].

* In "StargateSG1" Samantha Carter acts as a mother-figure for Cassandra. Even after Dr. Fraisier adopts Cassandra, the girl retains a strong attachment to Sam. O'Niell also acts as a second father-figure for Skaara (though it might be more fair to say that Skaara acts as a surrogate son for O'Neill, who's [[spoiler: song accidently killed himself with O'Neill's gun.]]

* In "StargateSG-1" Samantha Carter acts as a mother-figure for Cassandra. Even after Dr. Fraisier adopts Cassandra, the girl retains a strong attachment to Sam. O'Niell also acts as a second father-figure for Skaara (though it might be more fair to say that Skaara acts as a surrogate son for O'Neill, who's [[spoiler: song accidently killed himself with O'Neill's gun.]]

* In ''SecondHandLionds'', young Walter ends up getting raised by his two great uncles, Hub and Garth.

** Especially noticable when a spell causes Buffy to decide to get married and [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming she ask Giles to give her away.]]

** [[http://www.webcomicsnation.com/bdaniel/violet/series.php?view=archive&chapter=35843 But not everyone can be a momstitute]].]]

ImaginaryFriend is a SubTrope. If the ParentalSubstitute decides to make their status official, as it were, the kid becomes HappilyAdopted.

ImaginaryFriend is a SubTrope. This trope is often a feature of {{Tear Jerker}}s, especially if it follows TakeCareOfTheKids. If it's an older sibling who's taken over the parental role, that's PromotionToParent. The OldRetainer may take over this role in event that his employer's children are suffering from ParentalAbandonment. If an entire society has teens become parental substitutes, that's a TeenageWasteland.

See also ChildrenRaiseYou (for less willing parental figures) and PromotionToParent, when the parental substitute is a sibling.

Compare LikeASonToMe and the TeamMom. If the ParentalSubstitute decides to make their status official, as it were, the kid becomes HappilyAdopted.

* Sweets from {{Bones}} was adopted by an elderly couple, but both died before he began working with Bones and Booth. After Season 4, he begins to see Booth as a father figure and also Bones something like a sister.
* Mr. Schue is a PapaWolf/male TeamMom for all of [[{{Glee}} New Directions]] but he has a special relationship with his teenage {{Expy}} Finn, whose father died when he was a baby.

* Ye-Ye in ''NiHaoKaiLan''.
* While Brock is a PapaWolf to both of the boys in TheVentureBros, Season 4 has made it evident that Hank look towards Brock as this. It's slightly tragic when you take into consideration that Hank is TheUnfavorite with his actually dad.

A ParentalSubstitute is an adult friend who fills the children's lonely life with [[GoodParents guidance and (often) love]]. They guide the child and teach them how to stand on their own feet, how to have fun, and how to not be so bothered by the fact that Mommy or Daddy isn't around (or ignores them). If the parent is [[DeceasedParentsAreTheBest dead]], they may have known him and are able to answer when the child says TellMeAboutMyFather. Usually, by the end of the story, the ParentalSubstitute leaves as well, but at that point the kid is able to stand on their own two feet.

** Ace finds this with his captain Whitebeard, since his father [[spoiler: Gol D. Roger]] is dead.

* ''{FullHouse}}'' is somewhat based in this trope. Uncle Jesse and Joey move in to help Danny raise his daughters after the [[MissingMom mom dies in a car accident]], thus becoming additional father figures in the girls' lives. Later, Jesse gets married and Aunt Becky takes on the role of mom substitute.

* ''{Full House}}'' is somewhat based in this trope. Uncle Jesse and Joey move in to help Danny raise his daughters after the [[MissingMom mom dies in a car accident]], thus becoming additional father figures in the girls' lives. Later, Jesse gets married and Aunt Becky takes on the role of mom substitute.