A 5-year-old lied to his mom about his favorite cake on his birthday — 30 years later, the truth is still hidden for a sweet reason
A white lie meant to protect a parent can grow into a lifelong ritual, wrapped in love, guilt, and silence. This is the case of one man whose birthday tradition still carries a hidden truth, even after three decades, all because of something he said when he was just five years old. At that young age, he told his mother that the cake she made was his favorite. The story surfaced online and touched many hearts when it was shared on Friday, January 2, 2026. As reported by The Mirror, the post came from a Reddit user with the handle u/TheeDelpino, who chose to confess a secret he never plans to reveal to his mother.
Writing on Reddit’s r/confession page, the user explained how the moment began when he was just five years old. He wrote, “I grew up really poor. When I was about 5, my mom was visibly upset because she couldn’t afford to get cake mix for my birthday cake.” She only had what was needed to make a German chocolate cake. Seeing her stress and sadness, the child reacted without thinking, hoping to ease her worry. The user recalled, “I instantly told her that was my favorite cake ever.” The truth, as he admitted, was very different. “It definitely was not. I hate chocolate, and I hate coconut even more,” he added honestly, decades later.
That one sentence shaped every birthday that followed, quietly becoming a tradition filled with mixed feelings. For more than 30 years, his mother baked the same cake, believing it was his favorite and a symbol of her care. He shared, “Every year since then, for my birthday, she makes me a German chocolate birthday cake and is so super excited,” clearly cherishing the moment. Out of love, he forced himself to eat one slice each year, despite disliking every bite. When she sent leftovers home, he quietly threw them away, feeling guilt but also gratitude.
In an edit, the user explained why he will never tell her now, despite many suggestions. “She’s in her 70s now, and her health is failing rapidly,” he wrote with concern and sadness. Cooking has become difficult for her, and each cake now takes real effort and strength. He added, “Honestly, no matter how much I hate it, I will miss her yearly birthday cake when she is gone.” Many users replied with warm messages, debating whether honesty still mattered at this stage. Some urged him to keep the secret, while others shared similar stories of small lies told out of love.
u/imjustme610 wrote in the comment section, "Just say you had a different kind of cake and say that's your new favorite." Meanwhile, u/myystic78 shared, "My mom passed in April, and she had been too sick to cook for several years. Before that, we regularly canned jams and jellies, pickled beets, soup, etc. I'm down to three jars of pickled beets, the best pickled beets I've ever had in my life. And I'm scared to open them because then they'll be gone." u/AnGof1497 advised, "That is a secret to take to the grave."
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