Maya Rudolph Admits 'Changing Diapers Was So Much Easier' Than Dropping Daughter Off at College: 'It's All Painful'

Mar. 15, 2025

Maya Rudolph.Photo:Jamie McCarthy/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

Jamie McCarthy/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

Maya Rudolphis having a hard time processing her daughter’s college send-off.

The comedian, 52, recently returned from dropping her eldest daughter Pearl, 18, off at college for the first time. While speaking toVarietyfor their cover story published on Wednesday, Sept. 11, the proud mom called the experience “painful.”

“It’s just really confusing,” she told the outlet of her flooding emotions.

“Why the f— do we let them go?" she asked. “I’m nowhere near understanding it yet. Why did they invent parenthood this way? It’s all painful.”

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Maya Rudolph and Paul Thomas Anderson.Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

She continued, “I’m okay, but I can’t lie — it’s hard. Changing diapers was so much easier!”

In addition to Pearl, theSaturday Night Livestar is a mom to daughters Lucille, 14, and Minnie, 11, as well as son Jack, 13, whom she shares with husbandPaul Thomas Anderson.

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Host Maya Rudolph on Saturday Night Live on May 11, 2024.Will Heath/NBC/Getty

Will Heath/NBC/Getty

Back in May, the actress recalled deciding tomove her family from New York City to Los Angelesshortly after welcoming Pearl, while speaking withTown & Countryfor their cover story that month.

“I thought, ‘This is all going great!'” Rudolph remembered of the early days with her firstborn. “I’d always wanted to have kids. I’d always wanted to live in New York. I’d always wanted to be onSaturday Night Live.”

Rudolph then recalled commuting from Los Angeles to New York City for a while to filmSNL, occasionally bringing her daughter along.

source: people.com