10 People Share Their Unforgettable “Don’t Tell Mom” Memories

Parents often strive to create the best memories for their children, going to great lengths to make this happen. However, in their quest for memorable experiences, some may unintentionally overstep boundaries. This article showcases a delightful array of stories highlighting fathers who took amusing routes to give their kids unforgettable adventures that they can cherish in the years to come.

• My dad and I thought it was a good idea to start a small fire on the porch — a wooden porch. It was mostly paper, and we made sure to scatter the embers afterward. Then, we went inside and went to bed. The wind must’ve picked up overnight because when we came outside the next day, there was a giant hole burned into the porch.
  My dad just looked at me and said, “Hey, don’t tell your mom. I’ll get it fixed.” Then he covered the hole with a small table. Mom found out anyway, and we’re pretty lucky the house didn’t burn down. © who_is_this- / Reddit

• A female coworker of mine was miserable at work one day. I asked her what was wrong. She told me it was her anniversary and that she knew her husband had forgotten. She had pre-teen girls at home during summer vacation. I knew her home phone number (from the pre-cell phone era), so I called her home phone, and one of the kids picked up. I explained to the child who I was and that she needed to call Dad at work to remind him it was Mom and Dad's anniversary. I also asked her not to tell Mom or Dad that I called.
  The next day, she was all smiles. Gosh, he did remember! He brought home flowers and took her to dinner. Mission accomplished. Not a word was ever said about this — until six years later, when she left the company. At a farewell luncheon, she gave me a hug and whispered, “My kids ratted you out. Thank you.” © MastadonBob / Reddit
• When my wife is at work, I take my 4-year-old daughter out for breakfast. Then, we go on a small adventure around a shop of her choice and pretend to be whatever she wants. Last time, we went to a car parts shop and rolled tires around as if we were freeing them from monsters. So far, my wife doesn’t believe her when she later tries to grass me up. © ReaperWright88 / Reddit
• I’ve always worked in restaurants and got home late at night. On Fridays, I would treat myself to takeout — not just any takeout, but the indulgent stuff: cheese fries topped with gyro meat, steak nachos with guacamole. Always a large order, always with a big bottle of soda.
  When my girls were little, they would sneak downstairs late at night, and we’d munch on "bad food" while watching hilariously bad movies filled with all the swear words. © Astrochef12 / Reddit

• When my sister was little, our dad called her over for a serious talk. He said, "I found this in your desk. Where did it come from?" and pulled out a plastic bag filled with coins. My sister froze, looking terrified, then whispered, "It’s my pay for letting other kids at school copy my homework."
  There was a brief pause before Dad, trying to keep a straight face, told her to stop. There was no punishment that day, and as far as I know, Mom never found out.
• When I was in middle school, my father gradually bought computers and monitors for the four of us kids, as well as for himself, and the five of us would play World of Warcraft together for days on end, always logging off an hour before Mom got home.
  We’d rush through all the chores in that last hour, showcasing our finest teamwork. She never knew we all played because she thought the game was the work of the devil. © theNameless97 / Reddit
• One day, I found a bright pink lipstick on the bathroom counter. It wasn’t my mom’s shade, but curiosity got the best of me. I swiped it across my lips and twirled for my dad, who chuckled and said, “Looks great, but let’s keep it a secret, okay?” I wore the lipstick whenever he was around, thinking it was our little game. Then, one afternoon, I overheard my parents arguing. My mom was crying about the lipstick, and my dad was trying to calm her down. “It’s just a mistake,” he said. My heart sank — my innocent game had turned heavy. Later, while playing with my dolls, I heard my dad on the phone: “The lipstick was for our daughter. She loves pretending to be like her mom.” I realized the pink lipstick symbolized his attempt to connect with me amid a storm.
  That night, I returned the lipstick, understanding it was never meant for betrayal, but love. Years later, I learned my parents separated. Yet whenever I saw that shade of pink, I remembered my dad’s heart, trying to bridge the gap with a simple splash of color.

• My dad and I — around 5 years old at the time — were on our way home from a car show when we noticed we were being followed by the cops. My dad struggled to quickly put on his seatbelt, hoping he wouldn’t get a ticket, but unfortunately, we got pulled over. This was probably the first time I had ever seen a cop up close, let alone spoken to one. I was like a deer in headlights the whole time. With a cop on either side of the car, one leaned in and asked my dad why he had been swerving. My dad told the officer that I had been tickling him. The cops looked right at me and asked if this was true. I was too scared to speak, so I just nodded.
  The officers smiled and said, "Don’t do that again while your father’s driving, okay?" They left without saying anything else, and my dad gave me the classic, "Don’t tell your mom" lecture. © Ambrosius_Rapture / Reddit
• One night, when I was about 8 years old, I had gone to bed while Dad played a Nintendo game we had both been stuck on. Suddenly, he found a secret passage. He paused the game and came upstairs to wake me up.
  Excitedly, he 'snuck' me downstairs in a blanket, and I got to stay up past midnight on a school night, hiding under that blanket to see where the hidden passage led. It was a silly little incident, but it became one of my most cherished memories. © Strongdar / Reddit
• When I was 8, my dad started leaving the house early on weekends, telling me he had "errands." Curious, I followed him one morning. He drove to a rundown building downtown and disappeared inside. I waited, my heart racing, imagining all sorts of secrets. Finally, I peeked through a window and saw him kneeling in front of a group of kids, handing out sandwiches and playing games. When he returned home, I confronted him, “What were you doing?” He paused, then smiled, “Just helping some friends.”
  Years later, I learned those kids weren’t just random strangers; they were the very kids he’d secretly helped all along, and they had helped him stay connected to the community he’d grown up in but never wanted to share with us. He’d been showing me kindness in a way I’d never expected.

The people in these stories share their appreciation for the fun memories that have lingered with them throughout the years. However, not every memory is one to cherish. In this article, we've compiled eight tales from people recounting childhood experiences they would rather leave behind.