History Main / StrictParentsMakeSneakyKids

* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'':

* MsMarvel2014 of course had to do this as a {{Superhero}}, but Kamela Khan's parents are very strict in all aspects of her life. However, when Kamela finally told her mother about her secret identity, she revealed that she already knew and was pleased that her daughter's darkest secret was sneaking to help others.

* In ''Disney/TheLittleMermaidArielsBeginning'', King Triton bans music from the kingdom after it indirectly causes his wife's death. As a result, Ariel goes behind his back and starts attending a secret music club. He doesn't handle it well, which leads to Ariel CallingTheOldManOut.

->''"[Your daughter] already doesn't trust you because you stole her memories. And that, I recall, was because you were trying to protect her. Maybe if you hadn't'' protected ''her so much, she would know more about what is dangerous, and what isn't, and be a little less secretive--and less reckless!"''
-->-- '''[[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech Isabelle to Jocelyn]]''', ''Literature/CityOfLostSouls''

Most parents will do anything to protect their kids. Naturally, this means setting some restrictions. Sometimes however, they can become [[ParentsAsPeople too over-protective, albeit well-intentioned,]] to the point of giving them almost no freedom. In these scenarios, the child might obey their parent's every rule. Other times, they just become better at hiding things from their parents. This can go to even higher extremes in fiction, where a child may very well have a secret other life as a DemonSlayer or magical warrior, though their secrets could also be much more mundane. In any case, the child is keeping secrets from their over-protective parent.

* ''WesternAnimation/LegendOfKorra'': Inverted by Toph, who wanted her kids to have the freedom she never had. [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished As a result]], one of her daughters falls in with a criminal gang and the other a ByTheBookCop.

* Lane Kim on ''Series/GilmoreGirls'' has a whole secret life her extremely religious EducationMama knows nothing about. This requires a very complicated system that includes hiding things, lying, and sneaking around in order to talk to boys, listen to secular music, and wear modern clothes.

Most parents will do anything to protect their kids. Naturally, this means setting some restrictions. Sometimes however, they can become [[ParentsAsPeople too over-protective, albeit well-intentioned,]] to the point of giving them almost no freedom. In these scenarios, the child might obey their parent's every rule. Other times, they just become better at hiding things from their parents. This can go to even higher extremes in fiction, where a child may very well have a secret other life as a demon-slayer or magical warrior, though their secrets could also be much more mundane. In any case, the child is keeping secrets from their over-protective parent.

* Gabriel Agreste from ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' is a most strict and controlling parent who completely micromanages his son's life while having little part in it. He's completely oblivious to Adrien's secret life as a superhero [[spoiler:fighting supervillains of Gabriel's own making]], and also his frequent excursions as a civilian that involve him sneaking out of the house.

* Gabriel Agreste from ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' is a most strict and controlling parent who completely micromanages his son's life while having little part in it. He's completely oblivious to Adrien's secret life as a superhero, [[spoiler:fighting supervillain's of Gabriel's own making]], and also his frequent excursions as a civilian that involve him sneaking out of the house.

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[[folder:Films - Animated]]

[[folder:Films - Live Action]]
* In ''Film/DeadPoetsSociety'', Neil Perry's father talks to Dean Nolan and Neil is no longer the assistant editor for the school annual. Later on, Neil forges a letter that makes it look like his dad and Dean Nolan gave permission to participate in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at nearby Henley Hall. After Neil's father finds out, he orders him to quit the play, but Neil finds a way to perform in the play, believing his dad is taking a business trip to Chicago, only for his dad to arrive at Henley Hall and drag him home.

* Gabriel Agreste from ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' is a most strict and controlling parent, yet his son has a secret life as a rather goofy superhero.

** In season 5, [[spoiler: Pink Diamond's relationship with her fellow Diamonds also counts as this. Despite being much more assertive than Connie, Pink was still undermined by Yellow and Blue, considered to be her main parental figures. As a result, she is forced to keep her alter-ego as Rose Quartz and her visits to Earth, which is strictly forbidden by the Diamonds, a secret. When they refuse to let her give up her colony and end up taking control of the planet away from her because she won't complete it, Pink ends up secretly betraying them and faked her death with Pearl's help. Ultimately, the Diamonds are still unaware of Pink's true fate for thousands of years until the end of "Reunited".]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Toph's parents were over-protective and strict with their "helpless little blind girl"...which resulted in her becoming the reigning champion of an underground earthbending arena behind their backs, and ultimately running away to teach Aang earthbending.

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* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': Connie has strict parents who punish her harshly for rule-breaking, and as a result she kept her activities with the Crystal Gems a secret, including her sword-fighting lessons with Pearl. In the episode "Nightmare Hospital", Connie's mother finds her sword and is horrified. Connie confesses that she's been fighting monsters with Steven for the past year, [[CallingTheOldManOut finally telling her how much she hates her parents' over-protective and restrictive nature]], shocking her mother. In the end, Connie agrees to stop keeping secrets from her parents and her mother agrees to loosen up on the rules, and they hug it out.
-->'''Connie:''' Really, Mom, I know to do this!\\

-->--[[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech Isabelle to Jocelyn]], ''Literature/CityOfLostSouls''

* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': Connie has strict parents who punish her harshly for rule-breaking, and as a result she kept her secret life with the Crystal Gems a secret, including her sword-fighting lessons with Pearl. In the episode "Nightmare Hospital", Connie's mother finds her sword and is horrified. Connie confesses that she's been fighting monsters with Steven for the past year, [[CallingTheOldManOut finally telling her how much she hates her parents' over-protective and restrictive nature]], shocking her mother. In the end, Connie agrees to stop keeping secrets from her parents and her mother agrees to loosen up on the rules, and they hug it out.

->'''Connie:''' Really, Mom, I know to do this!\\

* Implied in ''{{Tangled}}''. Rapunzel actively hides Pascal from Mother Gothel, likely for fear that if discovered he would be taken away from her.

* Implied in {{Tangled}}. Rapunzel actively hides Pascal from Mother Gothel, likely for fear that if discovered he would be taken away from her.

Is often TruthInTelevision. Compare to PreachersKid. May result from MyBelovedSmother, KnightTemplarParent, or SafetyWorst. If the parent eventually discovers their child's secrets, it may result in AntiSmotherLoveTalk or CallingTheOldManOut. For a tamer variant, you've got DatingWhatDaddyHates.