Kaley Cuoco on raising toddlers: ‘It’s like taking care of your drunk best friend—every day’

Kaley Cuoco is known for keeping it real, and her recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon was no exception.

Between sharing stories about her 19-month-old toddler, Matilda, and reflecting on her journey through parenthood, Cuoco’s honesty left viewers laughing and nodding in agreement. For any mom who’s been through the toddler years, her words are both a comfort and a hilarious reality check. (And let’s be real, we’ve all been there.)

The chaos of toddlerhood

In her own words, “It’s a wild ride, Jimmy.” Isn’t that the truth? Cuoco’s not sugarcoating it—motherhood is a full-throttle rollercoaster, and every parent is just trying to hang on while enjoying the ride (and maybe screaming a little along the way).

But it’s not all cute giggles and baby cuddles. Cuoco gives us the real behind-the-scenes: “You’re making sure they make it to the bathroom or you’re cleaning their throw-up from whatever. And they’re out of their minds… and then they black out, and you’re like, ready to die.”

This is the stuff that doesn’t make it to the Instagram feed—the moments where you’re holding it together by a thread, questioning your life choices as you scrub up some toddler disaster. But somehow, you find yourself still laughing through the chaos because, well, there’s no other option.

Cuoco also humorously compares parenting to taking care of “your drunk best friend every day,” and if that doesn’t perfectly sum up toddlerhood, I don’t know what does. The out-of-control behavior, the random outbursts, and the utter unpredictability of it all. But, like any good friend, you laugh, you roll with it, and you somehow survive until the next day.

Related: My toddler inspired me to live life differently

And then, as if the world didn’t just implode in your living room, your toddler wakes up and casually asks, “What’s for breakfast? And you’re like, what??!” That’s the reality of parenting—never-ending, unpredictable, and as exhausting as it is hilarious. Just when you think you’re done, they start fresh the next morning, like none of yesterday’s drama ever happened.

The never-ending cycle

For Cuoco, the whirlwind doesn’t slow down, and the exhaustion is real. “Am I right though? It’s insane,” she adds, reflecting on the never-ending demands of her toddler. “And it happens every day.”

The daily grind can be exhausting, but it’s also what makes motherhood maddening and magnificent. The chaos is relentless, but so are the moments of pure joy in between, and somehow, that makes it all worth it.

Related: I look at my 2-year-old and think, ‘Wait, weren’t you just a baby?’

A partner in crime

In the middle of the madness, Cuoco has found her partner-in-crime in Tom Pelphrey. They met in April 2022, thanks to their mutual manager, and as she tells PEOPLE, it was “absolutely love at first sight” and “It felt like the angels started singing.”

A few months later, in October 2022, Cuoco and Pelphrey shared the exciting news that they were expecting their first child. On March 30, 2023, their daughter Matilda made her much-anticipated arrival. Cuoco couldn’t help but share her heartwarming feelings on Instagram, calling Matilda their “little miracle.”

But, as with any journey through parenthood, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. While there have been plenty of heart-melting moments with Matilda, the couple has also faced sleepless nights and the relentless demands of toddlerhood. Through it all, though, Cuoco and Pelphrey have remained a united front—because in the end, that’s the best foundation any parent can have.

In August 2024, the couple announced their engagement. It’s clear that their bond is built on more than just a romantic connection; it’s about partnership, understanding, and surviving the madness of parenthood together.

Balancing career and parenthood

When she’s not wiping up messes and running on zero sleep, Cuoco is starring in the second season of Based on a True Story on Peacock. She plays Ava Bartlett, a realtor who gets caught up in a crazy, suspense-filled situation involving a serial killer (just a casual Tuesday, right?). Cuoco is also starring in Role Play, an action-comedy thriller on Amazon Prime Video, set to drop in January 2024.

A motherhood rollercoaster

Cuoco’s journey through motherhood has been a rollercoaster, but it’s one she’s clearly taking in stride (and with a lot of laughs). Between the sleep-deprived moments and the sweet snuggles, Cuoco’s sense of humor shines through—proving that no matter how messy, exhausting, or crazy life gets, there’s always room for laughter. And isn’t that the most important part of parenthood?