Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell are proudly raising two daughters who “talk back” — even if that doesn’t sit well with everyone.
During the Monday, November 3, episode of his “Armchair Expert” podcast, Shepard, 50, recalled a conversation he had recently with a friend while out in Nashville where they “very kindly” brought up the fact that his and Bell’s daughters, Lincoln, 12, and Delta, 10, aren’t afraid to speak their minds.
“They’re kind of shook with how our daughters will talk back to us or to anybody because it’s very un-Southern, right?” Shepard explained, noting, “Down there, everyone’s like, ‘Hi, Ms. Kristen. Hi, Mr. Dax.’”
Shepard revealed that his friend proceeded to call him out for how vocal his kids are toward him in public, including while eating out.
“She’s like, ‘Yeah, your kids will let it rip,’” he explained. “‘They seem to have no kind of respect’ is what she was saying. And feeling a little entitled.”
While Shepard acknowledged that “there’s value” to having manners, like the ones that are evident throughout the south, he was proud that his girls will stick up for themselves against anyone.
“I said, ‘You’re dead right. They do talk back and they are not respectful,’” Shepard said of his response.
The Parenthood alum said he told the friend, “I can understand where that seems completely unruly, but I want you to know what I’m prioritizing, which is when they’re 19 and their boss is a f***ing creep, I want them to talk back. I want them to be disrespectful. I want them to always advocate for themselves, whether I think they’re right or wrong.”
Shepard added that he is “willing to deal” with what others consider “embarrassing” behavior from his young children to promote empowerment for when they’re adults.
“I can handle that,” Shepard concluded. “Because I want this other thing for them as women.”
Shepard and Bell, 45, have been honest about their parenting style — and the sometimes controversial approaches they have — throughout their marriage.
Earlier this year, Shepard told his podcast listeners that cursing is OK in their house, depending on the situation.
“I fully swear in front of my kids. They are allowed to swear, not with impunity, but when it’s called for, and they land it, and it’s in the house and not out at a restaurant, it’s OK,” Shepard said during the July 28 episode.
He revealed, “My defense of it is, I just told the girls, like, ‘Hey, these are noises that come out of your mouth, and you assign what they mean to you.’”
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