Additional Coverage:
- Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi: I go to bed at 7 p.m. now and tell my kids that I was acting on ‘Jersey Shore’ (businessinsider.com)
From “Party Girl” to Proud Mama: Snooki on Life After the Shore
Seaside Heights, NJ – Remember Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, the pint-sized dynamo who brought a whole lot of “GTL” to our screens on MTV’s “Jersey Shore”? Well, she’s traded in the wild nights for early bedtimes and juice boxes, and she’s embracing her new role as a mom of three with open arms (and a whole lot of Lysol).
Once known for her party-hearty antics, Polizzi is now a self-proclaimed homebody, happily tucked in with her kids by 7 p.m. “I definitely feel like I got it out of my system,” she shared, reflecting on her earlier days. “Now I’m happy to be in bed with my babies at 7 p.m. watching a movie.”
The transition from a reality TV sensation to a devoted mother wasn’t a shock to Polizzi. She explained that finding her husband, Jionni LaValle, naturally led her to settle down and raise a family.
“When I was first pregnant, people in public would often wonder how I could do it,” she recalled. “But to me, the transition from party girl to mom always felt very natural.”
The Stink of Success (and Sports)
Today, Polizzi is a busy mom to Lorenzo, 13, Giovanna, 11, and Angelo, 6. While the age gap presents its own dynamics, she appreciates the growing independence of her older two. “It takes a load off your shoulders when they can shower on their own,” she quipped.
Parenting, however, isn’t without its unique challenges – especially when it comes to the aroma of active kids. Lorenzo plays football, and Giovanna is a competitive cheerleader, leading to what Polizzi affectionately calls “stinky hobbies.”
“I’m constantly giving them a ‘StinkCheck’ because when they walk in after practice, they stink,” she confessed. Her mudroom, she admits, often carries that distinct “sweaty, dirty, after sports smell,” making Lysol Air Sanitizer a frequent ally in her quest for a tidy and pleasant home.
“Mommy Acts”: Explaining the “Jersey Shore” Days
With her oldest son, Lorenzo, now on TikTok, clips of his mom’s “Jersey Shore” past have inevitably surfaced. How does Polizzi handle the more… spirited moments? With a touch of theatrical flair, of course.
“I tell him, ‘Mommy’s an actor. They told me to do that.
That’s not real. It was a setup,'” she revealed.
While she plans to eventually share the unvarnished truth when her kids are older, for now, “Mommy acts.”
Her kids understand that her job involves being a public figure, though they’re not always thrilled about her travel schedule. Polizzi hopes they’ll eventually appreciate that “Mommy’s working so they can have a better life and attend any college they want.” For now, she jokingly adds, “they just think mommy is embarrassing.”
Family First: A Nanny-Free Zone
One thing Polizzi and her husband have always been firm about is keeping their childcare within the family. “Jionni and I never had a nanny,” she stated. “I didn’t grow up that way, and I didn’t want my kids to grow up like that either.”
Thankfully, both sets of grandparents are actively involved, with Sunday night family dinners at her mother-in-law’s house being a cherished tradition. It’s a testament to Polizzi’s commitment to a close-knit family life, a far cry from the wild days of the Shore, but clearly just as fulfilling.