Dax Shepard Shares Why He and Kristen Bell Actually Let Their Kids “Talk Back” and Be a Little Disrespectful
Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard’s parenting style has been turning heads lately — and honestly, it’s got everyone talking.
For most parents, hearing that their kids act with “no respect” might sound like a nightmare. But for Dax and Kristen, it’s actually a win. Yep, they see it as proof their parenting method is doing exactly what they hoped.
Dax Shepard, known from Punk’d, Parenthood, and now his hit podcast Armchair Expert, opened up about it in a recent episode. On his podcast, he’s known for those real, no-filter chats with big names like Will Ferrell and even Barack Obama. But when he talks about his own family life, fans love it even more.
Recently, Kristen Bell and Dax made headlines again when Kristen marked their 12th wedding anniversary with a cheeky Instagram post. She shared Dax’s dark joke — “I would never kill you” — which sparked some online debate since it happened during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
In his newest Armchair Expert episode, Dax got real about their parenting philosophy. He explained how a friend who joined them for dinner in Nashville was shocked by how outspoken their daughters were at the table. The girls’ bold way of talking surprised the friend — especially in the South, where kids are usually taught to be super polite.
Dax, who shares two daughters, Lincoln (12) and Delta (10), with Kristen, laughed as he told the story:
“She said it very kindly, but she was basically like, they’re kind of shook with how our daughters will talk back to us — or to anybody — because it’s very un-Southern, right?”
Their approach might sound unusual, but it’s clearly working for them. Letting kids speak up, set boundaries, and express opinions might actually be teaching them confidence — something every parent wants for their kids.
Their friend didn’t exactly sugarcoat it — she straight up questioned why Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell’s daughters felt so comfortable speaking so bluntly to their parents.
Dax laughed as he shared the story on his Armchair Expert podcast, saying, “She’s like, yeah, your kids will let it rip. They seem to have no kind of respect — and maybe even feel a little entitled.”
Instead of getting defensive, Dax totally understood where she was coming from. But he explained that he and Kristen actually want their girls to speak up, even when it comes off as “talking back.” For them, it’s all about teaching Lincoln and Delta to express themselves confidently, not just nod along to please others.
He admitted it’s not always easy — especially when it happens in public. It can feel awkward when your kid challenges you in front of others. But Dax says it’s worth it if it helps his daughters grow into strong, self-assured women who aren’t afraid to speak their minds in a world that often tries to silence them.
It’s a refreshing take on parenting — less about “perfect manners,” more about emotional intelligence and confidence. And honestly, that’s something a lot of modern parents are trying to get right.
“I can handle that because I want this other thing for them as women,” Dax Shepard said, making it clear that for him, confidence and self-expression matter way more than blind obedience or “perfect manners.”
This isn’t the first time Dax has gotten real about his family life either. He and Kristen Bell have never been shy about sharing how things really work in their house — no filters, no fake perfection. Their parenting style might raise a few eyebrows, but it’s all rooted in honesty, humor, and raising strong, emotionally intelligent kids.
In fact, during a July episode of his Armchair Expert podcast, Dax dropped another little parenting bombshell. He admitted that he fully swears in front of his kids — and yes, they’re allowed to swear too.
“They can swear — not with impunity,” he explained. “But when it’s called for and they land it. And if it’s in the house and not, like, at a restaurant, it’s totally fine.”
It’s definitely not your typical parenting rulebook, but that’s exactly what makes Dax and Kristen’s approach so interesting. They’re raising their daughters to be real — not perfect. And in today’s world, that kind of authenticity might just be the most valuable lesson of all.
