As the leaves turn and we embrace the cozy comforts of fall, I'm here to warm your hearts with stories of love, laughter, and the little ones that turn our worlds upside down. It's Nikki from Small Town Big Mouse, and today's episode is a beautifully woven tapestry of life's unexpected surprises. We honor the memory of a beloved friend and welcome his vibrant niece, Autumn, into our fold. Journey with us as we crack open the door to her love story with Tina, a tale that proves romance can be found in the most serendipitous of encounters - even if it begins with a mistakenly sent nude text!
Parenthood is an expedition filled with unpredictable twists, superhero serenades, and the occasional roadside meltdown, but it's these moments that stitch together the fabric of family life. Tackling the trials with a toddler in tow, we explore the hilarity that ensues when life throws you a curveball, and you've got to improvise a lullaby on the fly. We also address those stubborn myths about lesbian parenting, proving that our families are as diverse and loving as any other, with every rainbow and butterfly moment earned through the trials and triumphs of motherhood.
Closing out this heartwarming episode, Autumn quips about her day-to-day with Tina, sharing the symphonic balance between her calm and Tina's passion. Our candid chat reveals the inner workings of their marriage, inspiring laughter as we fantasize about running a farm - though who would actually wrangle the chickens remains a playful debate. Autumn steps into the spotlight, ready for more candid confessions in future chats, and together we celebrate the incredible family we've built through the bonds of this podcast. So come, laugh with us, shed a tear or two, and don't forget to connect with us on social media - your stories and voices are the lifeblood of our community.
As the leaves turn and we embrace the cozy comforts of fall, I'm here to warm your hearts with stories of love, laughter, and the little ones that turn our worlds upside down. It's Nikki from Small Town Big Mouse, and today's episode is a beautifully woven tapestry of life's unexpected surprises. We honor the memory of a beloved friend and welcome his vibrant niece, Autumn, into our fold. Journey with us as we crack open the door to her love story with Tina, a tale that proves romance can be found in the most serendipitous of encounters - even if it begins with a mistakenly sent nude text!
Parenthood is an expedition filled with unpredictable twists, superhero serenades, and the occasional roadside meltdown, but it's these moments that stitch together the fabric of family life. Tackling the trials with a toddler in tow, we explore the hilarity that ensues when life throws you a curveball, and you've got to improvise a lullaby on the fly. We also address those stubborn myths about lesbian parenting, proving that our families are as diverse and loving as any other, with every rainbow and butterfly moment earned through the trials and triumphs of motherhood.
Closing out this heartwarming episode, Autumn quips about her day-to-day with Tina, sharing the symphonic balance between her calm and Tina's passion. Our candid chat reveals the inner workings of their marriage, inspiring laughter as we fantasize about running a farm - though who would actually wrangle the chickens remains a playful debate. Autumn steps into the spotlight, ready for more candid confessions in future chats, and together we celebrate the incredible family we've built through the bonds of this podcast. So come, laugh with us, shed a tear or two, and don't forget to connect with us on social media - your stories and voices are the lifeblood of our community.
Hey, you know what time it is. It's small town, big mouse podcast, and this is Amber, here, one and only, and this is Nikki, your resident bartender, and we're doing another episode without Misty. She is on vacation. So we have we're. We're doing our best to like fill in as we go, and the last one was just me and Amber, but right now I have, so I have a really, really, really good friend that passed away. This is only the only sad part we're going to have right now.
Speaker 1:
He passed away during COVID. He was one of my best friends. He came here for Christmas, he came here for Thanksgiving. We hung out, I got to know some of his family and his niece became a really good friend of mine. And then his niece is married to another woman and I now call her my daughter-in-law, my daughter. So her, her wife, is my daughter-in-law. I love their kids. I love everything about them.
Speaker 1:
She is like the coolest best, like it's so hard because, like, her name is Autumn and Autumn's sitting here with us and I'm kind of talking third person about Autumn, but like, if people know me, like I don't want to ever say I was like weirded out by lesbians, because I wasn't weirded out by them. I just didn't know any. And the ones that I did know were the ones that came in the bar and they were all like fucking, just crazy. You know what I mean, like the butch ones that are like like if I looked at them the wrong way, or like you know why? Are you looking at my girlfriend and I'm like I'm not, I'm just trying to take your order. So I want to know what you want to drink. You know what I mean and you're just you're not that way, and neither is Tina. And the crazy thing is is when I look at you guys, like you guys aren't like all, oh, like all over each other and like just feeling each other up and touching each other the whole time, and that's how my experience has always been. But like I, you guys, this is what's crazy.
Speaker 1:
For the longest time I didn't even realize Autumn was a lesbian, until she brought I think it was Tina that you brought in the bar and she said something and she goes I'm going to keep this one. And I was like, oh, okay, I didn't know what that meant. And then the next thing I know these bitches are getting married. So Autumn, hello, autumn, hello, hello, welcome and Autumn listens to our podcast. She just dropped off some merch for us, so it was just apropos that she walked in the door and I'm like, hey, we have a third seat available. How about you put your ass in it and fill it? She's super nervous, so there might be a little pauses here and there, but we'll try to fix that. So, autumn, tell us, tell us about life with Tina, tell us about how you met, because I actually think I crack up every time you tell me this.
Speaker 2:
So me and Tina met through a mutual friend. We were at a bar drinking, me and the mutual friend, and this time you were married to another girl. I was at this time. Well, I was going through a divorce, but I was married to another person, and so I was with a major friend at the bar and she said we were going to meet her sister, which was Tina. They aren't really sisters, but she called her her sister.
Speaker 1:
So Tina has a lot of family. That's not really her family, like me.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, basically Got it. And so we met at the bar and I was hanging out with them and I happened to be making out with a different girl at the bar and Tina was like not having it. She just said she wasn't into that, she didn't want to chill with us, that we were going to be making out the bar and I was I was low key, a little intimidated by her at first. Never be honest, I've never been intimidated by a girl.
Speaker 1:
She was like really, aggressive because Tina was aggressive.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, she's like aggressive. She's kind of like Tina doesn't give any fucks, no, and when she's drunk it's just really doesn't give a fuck like at all about anything.
Speaker 2:
And so she was drunk and I was low key, scared for my life, and we all left and went to Denny's and I sat down by Tina and the guy came to take our order and she was like she's eating what I'm eating? We're eating chicken strips. And I was just like whatever she says I'm doing. And so then, um, yeah, I ended up having holding everyone's money and her ID and driver's license that night, and so she went home drunk and I didn't go home with her. And then the next day I texted her and oh, actually, let's reverse. She sent me a nude that night and then immediately responded wrong person, oh and so I was like, oh well, played, well played.
Speaker 2:
And then the next morning I messaged her and told her I had her ID and money and she wanted it.
Speaker 1:
And then over naked.
Speaker 2:
No, I pulled the old lesbian move and picked her up from Dutch and a breakfast burrito and took it to her yeah, the Dutch, the Dutch always gets them.
Speaker 1:
But didn't she tell you something like we're not going to kiss, or don't kiss me like that, or what was the oh?
Speaker 2:
no, that was fast forward. A couple of weeks later we were at a bar again and her and my brother were having the drinking contest. Drinking audio says and Wait, were you at old town? No, we're at Hook a ladder. Okay, shame on you. Yeah, and so she comes out from the bathroom area and right when she turned the corner, I just kissed her and she was like dead, looked me in the face and was like do not ever kiss me again. And I was just like, yes, ma'am, I Was scared again, and so then we went off on for a couple weeks, off and on, and Tina actually happens to be one of my best friends, cousins, which that's not how I met her but come to find out that they are blood related cousins. And and which cousin is that?
Speaker 1:
J, okay, j and Fadi, yes, yeah, so that's, and just in case Jane Fadi ever listened they're my number two lesbian couple. I love them.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so I'm J and Tina are cousins and I didn't really realize that at first and and then, and yeah, it kind of went on from there and we got together right before COVID and my grandma got sick and I moved to Tahoe to take care of my grandma and I kind of told Tina hey, um, I know we just started talking, but I got to move to Tahoe to take care of my grandma, so you can come with or you can stay behind, and she loaded up and went with me and we stayed there for seven, eight months and which I think is what was the foundation.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, because that was everyone knew that was gonna be the hardest thing ever went through in life and we were stuck in a small small town, together in the middle of nowhere and during COVID.
Speaker 1:
Yep, and so we were only had each other and autumn's grandma Yep, and then my sister Was in and out with us the whole time.
Speaker 2:
We were up there and, and so Then we came back and we started life.
Speaker 1:
And and then got married and we got and they had a beautiful wedding.
Speaker 2:
Yep got married at wolf lakes and I have an 11 year old from a previous relationship and Um, who, might I add, is the best boy ever.
Speaker 1:
I love him. Yeah, his name is Elias and he's amazing and he's smart and he's just like everything that. Like. He doesn't call me grandma, but I feel like I play like a kind of a grandma role. He has tons of grandmas.
Speaker 2:
I'm not he's weird with the names, like he he calls, I mean he calls his biological grandma's by their first names. He's very proper. He doesn't like nobody gets a nickname, nobody while he has a million. Yes and uh. And then we just recently actually Monday will be one year that we took in Tina's nephew kind of nephew not already been a year? Yeah, and so he was two when we got him, so he's three now. So we have a three year old and 11 year old.
Speaker 1:
And he also is. Yeah, I met him, yes.
Speaker 2:
Yes, and we're gonna meet him, that little ball of chaos. He came through here and destroyed. Yeah. Yeah, and he he calls Nikki Gigi and he's Nikki says Gigi yeah.
Speaker 1:
I love that kid. He's awesome and it's so crazy for me to look at like and I can't believe it's been a year. So when they first got him, he was hardly even verbal.
Speaker 1:
Right, you know he had been living on the streets kind of with his mom and they took him in and he is just now. It's like man. You know, we, we went to Disneyland and I just was like it was a nonstop. I had to read him the book we're talking about the book we're talking. I'm pretty sure we drove Autumn crazy. She probably really wanted to drink. On the drive I thought about it a couple of times.
Speaker 2:
I'm already trying to entertain him.
Speaker 1:
So I'm making up songs, we're singing songs and you know, and of course, a kid. You know he's two and a half at the time. I think two and a half.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, he was two and a half. He'd never been on a road trip before he was. Yeah, he was all over the place.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, and it was like every time I would. Every time something was good or he thought it was funny, it was again, again, again. So like I must have saying you know, patty cake to him like 900 times in the car.
Speaker 2:
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:
And then you know other songs that I make up the words to I think it was Spider-Man and I made up a Scooby-Doo song and you know. So, autumn, I don't really have a question because I pretty much know a lot about you and Tina, but what is something that like for, like from like a lesbian standpoint? What is something that people think about you, like about lesbians, but it's not true? Is there something you can think of that comes to mind?
Speaker 2:
Well, first things first. Everyone thinks lesbian. They think like rainbows and butterflies shoot out your ass.
Speaker 1:
That is not you, that's not me. Yeah, tina, not even no. Tina's bling-bling but, she's not rainbows.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, no, there's, and you know it's funny. Everyone always jokes like the guys at work. They're always like Tina's not a lesbian, tina's not lesbian, tina's not lesbian. I always tell them no, she's not a lesbian, she's only lesbian for me, yeah, um well, because, to be honest, Tina, you are Tina's first lesbian. Yeah, I it's. I'm known for being the straight girls first.
Speaker 1:
So they call that like you're the one that turns them out. Is that what it's called? Yeah, I don't know if I hear them out but I definitely am the one, or is that like a pimp thing?
Speaker 2:
They just want to try. They're like oh, you're cute, let's try it with you.
Speaker 1:
Like yeah because you're you were married before for To a woman. Yeah, but she, you were her first woman. Yeah, I was, yeah, her only woman. See, that's so crazy. And now she's with a man, and now you're married to Tina, but Tina had only been with man. Yep.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, that is crazy.
Speaker 1:
What made you switch? Cause you have a son, so obviously you were in a relationship and can I interrupt and say Elias's dad is great. Yeah, her her and I told her this the very first time I met him. I go, man, you did a really good job because he's real cute. He's cute, he has a nice job. Like, I'm like what, what happened?
Speaker 2:
Um, so he. I met him through my ex-wife, hit him and her brother. Our best friends and so me and my ex had been together since we were like 15, like for the longest time we were best friends growing up. Um, and so we just started dating. We, you know it just happened and uh, we broke. You know we were kids, we would break up here, break up there, you know the whole the whole thing.
Speaker 2:
And so, uh, we broke up and for like month or so, and I was like, oh, I'm going to go hang out with Dan and I ended up pregnant with Dan and, um, a month later, me and my ex got back together and wait Okay.
Speaker 1:
You went to hang out with Dan, but you were hanging out with Dan.
Speaker 2:
I was hanging out and on and with Dan.
Speaker 1:
Did you think at the time like maybe you wanted to be with a man? No, it was just like it was kind of yeah, I think it was more of a boredom drunk um kind of one of those. Yeah, it wasn't yeah, it wasn't.
Speaker 2:
I wasn't like, oh, I'm going to go marry and live this guy off. Yeah, Um. But I bet, when you got pregnant were you happy. No, I was shitting bricks.
Speaker 1:
I was scared for my life. To be honest, I was so worried.
Speaker 2:
And then I had to tell my wife that I was pregnant by a man and uh well, at the time we weren't married yet, but, um, I had to tell.
Speaker 1:
what were you worried about? Just telling people? Or like the being a mom or the pregnancy?
Speaker 2:
Um, I think I was just worried about being a mom because in my head it wasn't that I wasn't ready to be a mom, it just I wasn't at the spot that I wanted to be to be a mom, and so I just, yeah. So at first I was real nervous and then I kind of told everybody after I told my grandma, and she like reassured me, like it's fine, it's okay. Then I was the grandma that lived in Tahoe, yeah, then I was full, like okay, I can do this, like it's fine.
Speaker 1:
And your family helped you.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so me. So obviously I got back with my ex and we didn't we were not together the whole pregnancy, but she was there and uh sorry, a project drinking water. Kind of being he's all the thirst is real Kind of being a support of it. And then I had him and the whole time I was pregnant, I mean his dad did not talk, we did not. Really it was a love hate really.
Speaker 1:
This is hard to picture for me, because I see them in Iraq now and it's just like you guys are friends, it's like, yeah, it took a long time to get there.
Speaker 2:
Well, we've all. I think he had a lot of people in his ears when I was pregnant, um, because we weren't together, and then I was pregnant and but then again I was with a girl so yeah, so there wasn't that many guys to choose from to be pregnant by um, and so we had a love hate. And then, after I had Elias, um, he started Tina and we uh, we've always been friends. We've maintained a good relationship. He can't we spend all the holidays together, um, he sees him every single week, yeah.
Speaker 1:
I want to say when I first started hanging out with him, like it was down, was there? Yeah, he's amazing.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, we have a really good relationship and you know he loves Tina. He came to our wedding. He was a part of our wedding um he, him and my ex-wife. They get along well they um. So my kid is very loved. He has a lot of family.
Speaker 1:
It loves him and um, but that's an attribute to you too. You know that right.
Speaker 2:
I'm very easygoing. I'm just we're gonna do what I say. No, I'm just kidding yeah she's not what she said.
Speaker 1:
That is very fucking true.
Speaker 2:
No, I'm just I'm very easygoing, like I just I don't really have time to bullshit with people and if I say he's going to the dentist this day, he's going to the dentist this day and we can't. You're a very very good, mom.
Speaker 1:
Can I just say that? And let me say, um, there and I don't know if, if this is overstepping my bounds, we'll cut it out when Autumn and Tina took in Michael, the youngest one, there was some trepidation by Michael's grandfather because he didn't know them. You know what I'm saying, right, and I think he thought that, like he was gonna, michael was gonna be raised by these lesbians who rainbows and unicorns in the whole nine yards, and then. So the very first time he came to their house, I was over there. I just wanted to help in any way that I could, but I just tried to be quiet and kind of watch.
Speaker 1:
And he saw for himself like Autumn and Tina have a beautiful home, they both have jobs, they're good parents, they put dinner on the table, we sit down the table and we eat, we. You know, everything is very regimented and it's not like Michael's not over there, like running wild, like I guess how it could be pictured, like you know, because you think like okay, they're lesbians, so they must just let anything goes in the house. You know what I mean. It's not like that Michael gets in trouble, he's. You know, it's so funny when she tells him to go to his room because he literally he'll like stomp on.
Speaker 1:
He's like meh, meh, meh. And then he goes to the room and he's like some inaudible things and Autumn's like oh, he's probably like fuck, auntie, you know, because his calls are Auntie and then Tina's.
Speaker 1:
TT. So when he you know you can't understand what he's saying, at first I couldn't, but then it's. I mean now it's probably gotten a lot better. But like I would listen and it was kind of funny because I'm like, oh, she's right, he like stomps down the hall. He would go down and go to his room. He wouldn't shut the door. Most kids, like Jordan, my son, slam the door right. But Michael's got the door open. He's in there like meh, meh, meh, meh, meh, meh, meh, meh, meh, meh, meh, meh, meh. You can't understand and I'm just like, oh, yeah, he's, yeah, he is probably like fuck you, auntie, yeah go into my room.
Speaker 1:
But then he calms down and he comes out and he's you know, he's a really, really good boy. Like when we went to Disneyland, I just thought he, I thought he was being such a good kid. He was being a kid, but he was a good kid and it's so like that says everything about you and Tina. You know what I'm saying. That says everything about you and Tina, and especially because Elias is such a well behaved little boy and so smart and does so well, I mean, what more can you ask for? You can't? What a blessing. Yes, you need to be a part of you know, and it probably makes your job easy.
Speaker 2:
It, yeah, I just I try to make it as easy as possible on everybody.
Speaker 1:
So Not that motherhood is easy by any means, and I think I have this conversation with Tina before they got married. I'm like you're going to be in a lesbian relationship Now you're going to be I think it was after because I said you guys are going to have in this kid that you now have.
Speaker 2:
Michael.
Speaker 1:
And you have a child from another. Relationship Like this is going to be hard, but when I look at Tina and Autumn, they make it look easy and it's just. You know why? Because it's two women.
Speaker 2:
Yes, I feel like it makes a big difference, although everyone says I act like a man and I'm a dickhead and everything else in between. You can be, but so can I you know what I mean?
Speaker 1:
Who can't? She can be a dickhead, it's just.
Speaker 2:
I am an asshole.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I just, I mean if you, if you, if I had to like break it down, yes, you have the more masculine role in the relationship, but aside from that, you're still. You know what I mean? You're still.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I know.
Speaker 1:
You're Autumn to me, I don't know how else to explain it. So and Autumn listens, she loves to listen to our podcast and I love that. She likes to wait for like three or four episodes to come out and then she listens to like binge listens to them. So she's she's going to hear her own self right now. And she had to. It was funny because she texted Tina and was like they want me to be on the podcast and Tina's telling her go for it, go beyond it, do it.
Speaker 1:
And she told her make sure you tell everyone how great your wife is.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so make sure you tell everyone. I haven't said that part yet. We're waiting.
Speaker 1:
Tina and I, Tina and Amber, we're all waiting. Tell us how great Tina is.
Speaker 2:
She our most day. She's an excellent wife. Some days she's a little hard to handle, but that's everyone right, it is yeah.
Speaker 1:
You don't deal with anything that, like regular traditional husband and wives don't deal with, correct.
Speaker 2:
No, it's very hard. You guys both work. Everybody has their days. Yeah, no, we both.
Speaker 1:
You know, we both have full time, see but now what I want to know is because you're two women, is it also harder because, because women were bitchy, we're bitchy?
Speaker 2:
Now there's two of you, though.
Speaker 1:
So are you like extra bitchy, or are you bitchy and then she's bitchy, is there like? You know what I mean?
Speaker 2:
You know what I mean. I feel like I'm not. I don't, I'm not bitchy when I need to be bitchy, I'm like quiet, I just want to be left alone, like you're thinking about it. Yeah, and I'm very like non-emotional, I don't really show emotions.
Speaker 1:
She is non-emotional. I have emotions.
Speaker 2:
The whole world could be burning down. I'll be like, wow, this is stupid. And with my day and Tina is very emotional and she is, which is not a bad thing. She just she loves with her whole heart and all of her heart and she puts her whole heart into everything, but that's the yin with the yang. Yes, and so she, she definitely balances the family out, Like when we should be sad for something. She's definitely sad for both of us, and I just okay.
Speaker 1:
Like Autumn's very even keeled. I don't autumn doesn't really get like super excited about anything, but she doesn't get really super sad about anything either.
Speaker 2:
So, yeah, that's cool. Yeah, well, that sucks. Yeah, that's what it is. Some fallacious shit happens. Yeah, that's right. Life is life, it is, it is.
Speaker 1:
Well, autumn, I want to thank you for taking out the time of your day to bring us the stickers that we asked for and to join us. Is there anything else that you want to say?
Speaker 2:
No, I enjoy. I was way nervous to do this, but I think I could do it. Yeah, I think I'm ready for the hot seat next time. Okay, I like that part.
Speaker 1:
You could bring me the juicy next time I think next time we should have Tina and Autumn on.
Speaker 2:
Oh God, that would be a show and a half.
Speaker 1:
They might just run us over and take over. Well, I mean that way. Then, Tina, could you know, they could say stuff, they could tell you stuff. You know, I keep telling.
Speaker 2:
Tina, I want to buy a farm and you know, like you, want that 20 acres.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, every time you see the.
Speaker 2:
You know you drive by the farm. They have that sign out for him that says their name of their farm. I'm like we could be two girls, one farm that is a good name.
Speaker 1:
You mean like, oh, like the moniker for their farm. Yeah, yeah, it's not like the Smith farm.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so instead of like two girls, one couple, we two girls were a farm. Yeah, I like it. What would you?
Speaker 1:
do on your farm, farm stuff, that's it. You just want to have land.
Speaker 2:
No, I just want to have. Well, we, you know, we host all the, all the things, and so we need some more land for that.
Speaker 1:
Yes.
Speaker 2:
Maybe a little dirt bike track in the back for the boys. How about some goats. Tina wants some goats, maybe a little pig or two, you know, maybe a cow, who knows?
Speaker 1:
Who's going to be taking care of these animals?
Speaker 2:
Um, I think Tina on her two days. She works from home. That's her plan. Oh, okay.
Speaker 1:
Oh, so there's a plan? Yeah, there's a plan, and they're only getting fed two days, apparently.
Speaker 2:
Yes, yeah, the other days um I, I better get out there after dawn.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, you can ask Shula about that. I'm sure you have to feed them every day.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I think I do. I mean it's the same as kids, right?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, yeah, fuck them kids, if not, if not, I'll throw some Cheerios out there.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, here you go, goats. Cheerios for everyone.
Speaker 1:
Okay, well, I'm sorry, I was trying to sign us off, but we got. We got off on a tangent, so it was good having you here. I love you so much. Your family means everything to me and just to have you on our podcast is like I, that's like that I'm. I don't think I've stopped smiling since you sat down in the chair because I like to have. It's cool to have someone I know and someone that, so I go places with these people. We're going to Legoland.
Speaker 1:
I keep talking about my trip to Legoland. I'm going to Legoland with Autumn and her wife and the kids, and we went to Disneyland together and I'm super excited about that because I love spending time with them, I love being around them and I love being a part of their family. And, if you know anything about me, my family's not big, so it's like. It's like having my own kid next to me right now while I'm talking, even though she's not so anything else you want to add, miss Amber? No, I'm good, all right. Well, everyone, please subscribe, like, listen, share, instagram, um, tick tock comments, facebook comments. You've got anything to say? Um, about any of our episodes? Please reach out. Uh, that's it.