As the holiday season approaches, Jeannie Mai is getting excited about celebrating with her 2-year-old daughter Monaco. Including celebrating one new tradition: a visit from an Elf on the Shelf! Kids everywhere love those mischievous Scout Elves, who come from the North Pole and get into all kinds of shenanigans during the night while the family sleeps. Except in Mai’s house, their elf is going to have a “clean” twist that sounds ingenious!
“This is the first year we’re busting on the Elf on the Shelf,” The Christmas in the Spotlight star told PEOPLE at an event in West Hollywood on Nov. 19. “The Elf on the Shelf is known as the dude who causes mischief and does wacky things around your house and turns it upside down,” she continued, adding that she doesn’t want to inspire those same antics in her toddler. (As if a toddler needs any more motivation to act up!)
“I want the Elf on the Shelf to be known to clean and actually take care of some chores,” she quipped. “The Elf is going to be by the dishes washed. That Elf is going to be folding Mommy’s socks. I’m going to be like, ‘Oh my God. Look how Elf on the Shelf put Mommy’s socks together. Monaco, can you put Mommy’s socks together so we all can help the Elf?’”
The America’s Test Kitchen host said she’s also planning on showing Monaco how hard work is rewarded. “And this Elf is getting paid,” Mai added. “I’m going to put dollar bills by this Elf. It’s going to be a whole different lifestyle at my house.”
Um, yes, please! I can’t believe elves never acted like this before. Helpful elves that assist with chores and cleaning up sounds perfect. And while it’s too late for most of us who’ve had visits from elves for years, there’s no reason moms of babies and toddlers can’t start this tradition this year!
Mai, who shares Monaco with ex-husband Jeezy, seems to be fulfilling her 2024 resolutions of finding “joy” this year. In an interview ahead of the Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve in Dec. 2023, Mai shared her plans for this year. “I just want good ‘ol wholesome joy,” Mai said. “Like that stuff that feels so calm and readily available that it doesn’t need a night out. It doesn’t need to be looked for. It just is there because you feel whole and you feel safe. That’s what I want to have. I know how to conjure it, and I want to keep it for all of 2024.”
Before you go, check out Jeannie Mai’s best quotes about being a mom.
