Dax Shepard Opens up About Missing the Mark on Valentine’s Day With Kristen Bell

Dax Shepard found himself in a bit of a romantic dilemma this February when he realized his Valentine’s Day preparations left some of the most important women in his life feeling definitely neglected.

During a recent “Fact Check” segment on his Armchair Expert podcast, the host admitted that while he went above and beyond for his two daughters, his wife, Kristen Bell, and his mother were left with a much quieter holiday than they had anticipated.

The father of two explained that he dedicated the entirety of his creative energy to making the day magical for 12-year-old Lincoln and 11-year-old Delta. He shared that he spent hours on personal gestures, including inflating heart-shaped pool floaties and crafting detailed, handmade cards for the girls.

I put several hours into my Valentines, Shepard noted, confessing that this deep dive into fatherhood duties meant he essentially ran out of bandwidth for the adults. His mother, Laura Labo, was also in town for the weekend, but even she couldn’t compete with the attention bestowed upon the “little ones.”

Shepard admitted that after 51 years of his mom being his Valentine, he simply hit a limit with his resources. He joked that someone in the house, alluding to Bell, ended up having a celebration that was less-than-exciting compared to the high expectations they might have held.

However, the actor was quick to reason that both his mother and his wife were able to see the bigger picture. He believes they appreciated that his focus was on fostering a special bond with his daughters.

His co-host, Monica Padman, even suggested that for someone like Bell, seeing Shepard be such a devoted father is actually the Valentine’s gift in itself. Bell has echoed this sentiment in the past, often praising Shepard’s dedication to their family and his personal development.

She previously mentioned that she values his commitment to growth at all times and views their marriage as a partnership where they constantly evolve to fit together. For the Frozen star, the relationship isn’t about keeping a tally of favors but rather facing the world as a unified team.

When she isn’t managing Valentine’s Day mishaps, Kristen Bell has been keeping an incredibly busy professional schedule this year. She is currently celebrating the massive success of the second season of her Netflix hit Nobody Wants This, which was released in late 2025.

The show, which stars Bell alongside Adam Brody, has already been renewed for a third season following high viewership and critical acclaim for its portrayal of modern romance. Additionally, Bell is set to return to the global stage as the host of the Actor Awards on March 1, marking her third time emceeing the prestigious ceremony.

She is also heavily involved in the production of Frozen 3, which is currently in active development at Disney. Shepard, meanwhile, continues to dominate the podcasting charts with Armchair Expert, which recently received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Podcast.

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