Jeannie Mai has revealed the hilarious and unconventional way she potty-trained her 2-year-old daughter, Monaco.
Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the It’s a Wonderful Life Yuletide Event in West Hollywood on Nov. 19, Mai shared how a trip to Mexico City—and a lesson from some wildlife—helped her daughter ditch the diapers for good.
“She just, at this very moment, on this day at 7:36 p.m., my daughter is potty-trained because I took her to Mexico City to shoot, well I was shooting Raid the Cage, a show I have for CBS,” Mai began.
The key moment? Watching some local hippos handle their business.
“And she was like, ‘Ew, Mommy, why does it stink?’, Mai recalled. “And I was like, ‘That could be you. If you don’t know how to flush your ish, if you don’t know how to hit that button and get it in the hole, you’re going to be just like that hippo.”
Lesson learned. “Boom. Done,” Mai added. “I’ve never had to put a diaper on her since.”
With Monaco growing up so quickly, Mai is also introducing some holiday magic into their home for the first time this year.
“This is the first year we’re busting out the Elf on the Shelf,” Mai said. “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.”
For Jeannie Mai, the Elf has a higher purpose: teaching Monaco about responsibility.
“I want the Elf on the Shelf to be known to clean and actually take care of some chores,” Mai joked. “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”, she contnued. “Monaco, can you put Mommy’s socks together so we all can help the Elf?’”
She even plans to sweeten the deal for Monaco. “I’m going to put dollar bills by this Elf. It’s going to be a whole different lifestyle at my house.”