Comedian Tig Notaro got real about parenting, admitting she never cracked a single baby book and embracing her role as the 'not favorite' parent. In a candid interview with TODAY's "The Parent Chat," Notaro shared how her twin nine-year-old boys accidentally discovered she was gay, and why stepping back from touring has transformed her family life.
Notaro, known for her dry wit, said she and her wife Stephanie Allynne have very different parenting styles. "It's just her — she's the fun one, she's the favorite," Notaro joked. While her sons gravitate toward their mother for fun activities, Notaro has leaned into her role as the more structured parent.
The comedian revealed that her sons found out she was gay through a YouTube video — not from a conversation. Notaro says her kids reacted with complete nonchalance. "They just said, 'Oh, okay,' and then went back to playing," she recalled. The moment, which could have been a big reveal, was so casual that Notaro admits she had actually forgotten to formally come out to them.
A major shift came when Notaro decided to drastically reduce her touring schedule. "I was gone all the time, and even when I was home, I was tired," she said. Since cutting back, she's found new joy in one-on-one time with each boy. "There's magic in just being present," she said.
The interview also touched on a family inside joke born from a mishearing: "When Mare Is Dead." Notaro says the silly phrase has become a running gag that brings them all closer.
For more of Tig Notaro's unfiltered take on parenting, watch the full episode of "The Parent Chat" on YouTube.