Who knew one of Hollywood's most charming actors could also be a parenting mastermind? George Clooney, the beloved director of Boys in the Boat, has shared some seriously funny holiday parenting tips that are worth their weight in gold. And guess what? His twins, Ella and Alexander, are completely into it. These kids love Santa Claus so much that George’s got a clever trick up his sleeve to keep them in line.
Calling Santa: The Clooneys' Secret Weapon
Now, here's where things get interesting. George, who recently turned 62, revealed to People magazine how he uses Santa to his advantage. If his kids are acting up, let’s say during the summer months when they're feeling a bit wild, George pulls out his trusty phone and makes a "call" to the big guy in red. "They’re still all into the Santa thing, which is very helpful," George said with a laugh. "Because when my kids are acting poorly, let’s say in July, I have a call from Santa."
And it’s not just any call. George gets super creative during these pretend conversations. He told People, "And I go, ‘Hey Santa, how’s it going?’ And he’s like, ‘Everything’s going good. How are the kids?’ And I go, ‘Well, I don’t know. Kids, how are you guys doing?’ They’re like, [whining]. And then I get away with it." Sounds like George has a knack for turning a parenting challenge into a fun family moment.
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Bringing Santa to Life
But George doesn’t stop there. To make sure Ella and Alexander, both 6 years old, truly believe in the magic of Santa, he enlists the help of a close friend. "I actually have a buddy whose phone comes up ‘Santa,'" the ER alum confessed. Talk about going the extra mile to keep the holiday spirit alive!
This isn’t the first time George has opened up about his holiday phone call tactic. Back in December 2020, during an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, he shared how he came up with the idea. "At 3 years old, you’re just trying to keep your kids in line in general, so I devised a way to get them to behave during this time," he explained. George went on to describe how he stands outside his kids’ bedroom door in the morning, pretending to chat with Santa. "When they’re asleep in the morning — they sleep in the same bedroom — they start to make noises, and you can hear the two of them getting at each other, and I stand outside the door, and I go ‘Oh hi Santa!’ and then you hear Santa is there and he’s like ‘Ho ho ho!’" It’s a clever trick that works wonders.
Laughing Through Parenthood
George’s sense of humor shines through in his approach to parenting. His twins, Ella and Alexander, have certainly inherited his playful spirit. "They’re funny, and they pull pranks on me," the Kennedy Center Honoree shared during an episode of the "WTF with Marc Maron" podcast in November 2021. "I just look at them thinking, I couldn’t be happier and I couldn’t be more surprised at how happy I am." It’s clear that George cherishes every moment with his kids.
Putting Family First
George also shared his plans to slow down his career and focus more on family life. His wife, Amal Clooney, 45, feels the same way about her work as a barrister. "I’ve committed to a certain amount of work that I’m going to do, making sure that I’m going to do that because it’s a commitment and it’s the right thing to do. And she’s in the exact same place," George said. "It’s going to take about a year, we figure. And then, it doesn’t mean she’s going to stop taking the cases that she wants, it just means she’s not going to take six. And I’m not going to do four jobs a year, I’m going to do one." It’s a beautiful reminder of the importance of balance and family.
