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

The comedian shares daughters Pearl, 18, Lucille, 14, and Minnie, 11, as well as son Jack, 13, with husband Paul Thomas Anderson

Maya Rudolph is 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 to Variety for 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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Related: Maya Rudolph's 4 Children: All About Pearl, Lucille, Jack and Minnie

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

In addition to Pearl, the Saturday Night Live star is a mom to daughters Lucille, 14, and Minnie, 11, as well as son Jack, 13, whom she shares with husband Paul Thomas Anderson.

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Back in May, the actress recalled deciding to move her family from New York City to Los Angeles shortly after welcoming Pearl, while speaking with Town & Country for 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 on Saturday Night Live."

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

"This little bald baby, listening to the musical guests warm up. I look back and I can't believe I did that," she admitted. "It was crazy. I don't think I slept for two years."

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