History Main / DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou

* I'm surprised that ''StarWars'' isn't on here yet! First off we have Obi-Wan's infamous JediTruth. Then, of course, [[LukeIAmYourFather the big reveal]]. But [[DisappearedDad Anakin]] had no choice but to "abandon" [[SeparatedAtBirth Luke and Leia]], because ''[[MuggleFosterParents he didn't even know that they were still alive]]''! As soon as he learned otherwise, [[WeCanRuleTogether he planned a nice family bonding experience so that they could get to know each other]].

* In the anime version of ''AngelicLayer'', Misaki's MissingMom Shuko is revealed to have [[spoiler:been confined [[IllGirl to a wheelchair due to a neurological disease]], and she'd gone to Tokyo to do research on it to help look for a cure]] and hence hasn't seen her daughter for years. This is notably [[PragmaticAdaptation exclusive only to the anime]], while in the manga Shuko's excuse is that ''she's pathologically shy''. The manga explanation [[{{Moe}} is cuter]], but the anime explanation makes more sense [[spoiler:[[ValuesDissonance considering Japan' treatment of the disabled]]: Shuuko mentions that she doesn't want people to look down on Misaki for having "a useless mother"]].

* In the anime version of ''AngelicLayer'', Misaki's MissingMom Shuko is revealed to have [[spoiler:been confined [[IllGirl to a wheelchair due to a neurological disease]], and she'd gone to Tokyo to do research on it to help look for a cure]] and hence hasn't seen her daughter for years. This is notably [[PragmaticAdaptation exclusive only to the anime]], while in the manga Shuko's excuse is that ''she's pathologically shy''. The manga explanation [[{{Moe}} is cuter]], but the anime explanation makes more sense [[spoiler:[[ValuesDissonance considering Japan treatment of the disabled]]: Shuuko mentions that she doesn't want people to look down on Misaki for having "an useless mother"]].

*** [[spoiler: Further along the plotline, the initial reason she left them was to bring the guy ''back'' to the CIA.]]

* In HarryPotter, Dean Thomas's father was an example of this. [[spoiler: He was asked to join the Death Eaters, but refused and ran away to protect his wife and baby son. He ended up getting killed.]] Dean never finds out about this.
** Neither do most readers, because this info is WordOfGod.
* Five words - PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians.

* In ''{{Dinoverse}}'', the rebellious graffiti artist Janine resents how her mother is often not at home, forcing her to miss school in order to prepare the hotel for guests herself. As it turns out, her mother is keeping Janine from getting in trouble over the graffiti - she never confronted her daughter because she feared Janine would run away.

See also TellMeAboutMyFather, TurnOutLikeHisFather. Sometimes related to GiveHimANormalLife.

* In {{Drowtales}}, [[TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask Quain]] is quite aloof towards her children, leaving them for months or even years at a time at boarding schools or under the care of a slave or older sibling. [[TheObiWan Quil'yate]] explains to [[FallenPrincess Ariel]] that this is not because the drow are evil, but because the clan believes that it is best for young nobles to learn to prove themselves, so that they can be strong leaders.
** However, it also turns out that [[spoiler: Quain isn't really Ariel's mother, but rather her grandmother; Ariel is the daughter of her 'crazy sister' Mel, and Zhor, an elf magically turned into a spider; Quain forced the unlikely couple to give up Ariel (including an apparent attempt to kill Zhor while they were at it), thinking the two could not provide a proper environment for a future clan matriarch and wanting to take the credit for herself.]]
** [[spoiler:Quain is also unable to have children, and it's strongly implied that the desire to have a [[HeirClubForMen suitable heir]] is part of her motivation as well.]]

* In ''BaldursGate'' ''2'' Cernd left his wife and unborn son to pursue his calling as a druid. ''He'' thinks his commitment to maintaining the balance of nature is a good reason for abandoning his family. Nobody else does. Even the evil wizard who is about to sacrifice the baby to a lich calls him out on it, asking if Cernd even knows the kid's name. To be fair, he didn't know his wife was pregnant at the time.

* In ''BaldursGate'' ''2'' Cernd left his wife and unborn son to pursue his calling as a druid. ''He'' thinks his commitment to maintaining the balance of nature is a good reason for abandoning his family. Nobody else does. Even the evil wizard who is about to sacrifice the baby to a lich calls him out on it, asking if Cernd even knows the kid's name. To be fair, he didn't know his wife was pregnant at the time.

* In the anime version of ''AngelicLayer'', Misaki's MissingMom Shuko is revealed to have [[spoiler:been confined [[IllGirl to a wheelchair due to a neurological disease]], and she'd gone to Tokyo to do research on it to help look for a cure]] and hence hasn't seen her daughter for years. This is notably [[PragmaticAdaptation exclusive only to the anime]], while in the manga Shuko's excuse is that ''[[WallBanger she's pathologically shy]]''. The manga explanation [[{{Moe}} is cuter]], but the anime explanation makes more sense [[spoiler:[[ValuesDissonance considering Japan treatment of the disabled]]: Shuuko mentions that she doesn't want people to look down on Misaki for having "an useless mother"]].

* [[AvertedTrope Averted]] in ''OrderOfTheStick,'' where Eugene [[PetTheDog chooses not to follow a credible lead]] on [[BigBad Xykon]], whom he's sworn to destroy, because doing so would most likely mean abandoning his family and dying at best, and having Xykon hunt them down for revenge at worst. He ''did,'' however, continue to be a [[NeglectfulParent neglectful]] JerkAss to his oldest son, and [[BlatantLies specifically claimed that]] [[HiddenHeartOfGold he would have abandoned the family for his quest if given a chance]].

* In ''{{Naruto}}'', Naruto's father [[spoiler:Namikaze Minato, had [[ValuesDissonance what he believed was a good reason]]... Sealing the Kyuubi inside of Naruto to protect Konoha with a XanatosRoulette against Uchiha Madara.]] Turns out that his mom is not only dead, but [[spoiler:[[GenerationXerox was the ''previous'' Jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tails.]].]]

* In ''{{Naruto}}'', Naruto's father [[spoiler:Namikaze Minato, had what he believed was a good reason... Sealing the Kyuubi inside of Naruto to protect Konoha with a XanatosRoulette against Uchiha Madara.]] Turns out that his mom is not only dead, but [[spoiler:[[GenerationXerox was the ''previous'' Jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tails.]].]]

* Done with [[spoiler: Hohenheim]] in the anime version of ''FullmetalAlchemist'', although it sort of feels like a cowardly decision and the character comes across as not entirely doing the right thing by leaving.
** Much more justified in the manga where he [[spoiler:figured out the BigBad's evil plan and set out to stop him.]] He was also trying to [[spoiler: become mortal again, however, since he wanted to die with Trisha.]]

* Where do we begin in TalesOfSymphonia? Lets start with [[spoiler: Kratos and Lloyd. The reason Kratos abandoned Lloyd was because he saw him, Noshie, and the monster version of his wife fall over a [[NoOneCouldHaveSurviedThat a cliff.]] He thought they had died. Then Genis and Raine got abandoned because of a combination of FantasticalRacism in the second world and the portal closed before their mother could get through which sent her into HeroicBSOD.]]

* In ''{{Pokemon}} Special'', Ruby has a deep resentment for his father, Norman, for leaving the family for five years. [[spoiler:In reality, a frenzied Salamence assaulted Ruby and Sapphire, and the injuries inflicted by Ruby caused it to careen into the Weather Institute. Norman covered it up and was disqualified from his gym leader certification trial as a result. The change in Ruby's behavior left bad blood between both of them. Norman gave Ruby the go-ahead with his Contest campaign after a prolonged battle at the ruined Weather Institute five years later (would have been a birthday gift if Ruby stuck around). Then Ruby found out the motives for Norman's actions. Dood...]]