When it comes to parenting, Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard are doing it right.
In a new podcast interview, Bell just revealed that she and Dax "role-play" apologizing for the kids.
Instagram | @kristenanniebell
Kristen Bell And Dax Shepard 'Role-Play' Apologizing After A Fight In Front Of Their Kids
No one can say that Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard aren't honest about their unique parenting style.
Instagram | @kristenanniebell
Kristen even recently appeared on the "Motherly Podcast" to discuss some of the tactics that she and husband, Dax Shepard, use to raise their two daughters, Delta, 5, and Lincoln, 6½.
For instance, Bell admitted that she and Dax refuse to lie to their kids.
Instagram | @kristenanniebell
This means that tough subjects like Santa and sex are not off-limits.
"I was told by a mom that I really respect, 'Don't ever let, especially a daughter, look at you when they're 11 years old and be able to think, What else have you lied about?'" Bell said.
Instagram | @kristenanniebell
This meant that when the subject of whether Santa Claus is real or not came up, she had no issues coming clean to their 6½-year-old daughter.
"She said, 'You know, something stinks about this whole Santa thing because if a flight to Europe takes that long, how can he make it back?'"
Instagram | @kristenanniebell
What a smart kiddo for being only six and a half!
She also rides motorcycles, so are we really surprised?
She continued:
Instagram | @kristenanniebell
"And my husband and I looked at each other and I immediately thought, 'Am I going to look at this little girl and tell her to stop the instinct in her body that tells her when something's wrong and to ask questions? Or am I going to reward this behavior of critical thinking?'"
In the end, the "Frozen 2" star chose to answer honestly, which is something that she found to be "liberating."
Instagram | @kristenanniebell
"I thought I'm giving her this wonderful feminist gift. And then she was like, 'Oh, that's a bummer'...I said, 'Well, you know what? It's a wonderful imagination game that we play. We can still play it.' By the way, her sister, her little sister has been told numerous times [and still believes]."
Bell shared that she will use this same type of honesty when having the "sex talk" with her kids.
"I do feel strongly about that. I would give advice to like the Santa Claus thing is up to every individual person, but the sex thing, I'm like, there is nothing wrong with knowing how the penis works and how the vagina works," the actress said.
"I just don't understand the American shame in that. In fact, I think it equips them to understand pregnancy way better.
Instagram | @kristenanniebell
The agency they have over their bodies to say, 'Oh yeah, this is how it works...Daddy has a penis, mommy has a vagina,'" she continued.
She continued: "Here's how it works. And here's the part of daddy's DNA and the part of mommy's DNA that grows you like a seed."
Instagram | @kristenanniebell
"And by the way," she added, "they're so bored by the second sentence."
During the interview, Kristen also shared how she and her husband Dax teach their kids conflict resolution.
Instagram | @kristenanniebell
“We’ll come home, we’ll be tense with each other, we’ll snap at each other in the kitchen — not realizing they’re [Bell and Shepard’s kids] witnessing it — we put them to bed, we go into the bedroom, and just privately, we’ll say, ‘God, I’m sorry I snapped at you, I’ve had a really tough day,” Bell began.
This caused the parents to create the rule that whenever they fight in front of their kids, they will resolve the issue in private, and then role-play apologizing for the kids.
Instagram | @kristenanniebell
One time, the couple had such an "incredible fight" that they both blacked out.
“So [Shepard] said, let’s make a deal that whenever we make up behind closed doors, that we role-play the next morning."
Instagram | @kristenanniebell
"Every time we’re testy with each other, the next morning I’ll say, ‘Good morning, Daddy — I just wanted to say, last night, I had a really long day and I’m sorry that I snapped at you about, you know, not having the dinner that you wanted.’"
Bell continued: "And he would say, ‘Yeah, Mommy, you’re right, I had a hard day too, and I’m really sorry.’ And then we physically kiss and hug."
By doing this, the parents hope that their kids learn from them.
"You can't give anything to your child that you don't have yourself."
Instagram | @kristenanniebell
"If you want your child to have a positive body image, you better start having it."
Sounds like some smart parenting to us!
For more of Kristen's wisdom, you can catch her full interview on the "Motherly Podcast here!
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