Jennifer Garner on Having a ‘Really Hard Time’ Raising Her and Ben Affleck’s Kids

As Jennifer Garner bravely reveals, facing the public eye as a celebrity doesn’t exempt one from the everyday struggles of parenting. In a candid interview, the actress shares the heartfelt truth about the hurdles she encounters while raising her and Ben Affleck’s children.

Garner’s transparency sheds light on the raw and relatable experiences many parents face, showing that even amidst fame and fortune, the journey of parenthood can still be filled with its own set of difficulties and challenges.

The actress shares three children with Affleck. Their children are Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12. In her interview, Jennifer Garner talked about how hard it was not to make decisions for her children.

She said, “I mean, my parents did too, and I’m so amazed by that. I have a really hard time not saying, ‘This is what I see you as,’ and ‘I think you should.’ I really have to sit on my hands.”

Garner revealed she does not have mom guilt when she’s working.

In 2020, at the premiere of his movie “The Way Back,” Ben Affleck revealed that even though the movie was appropriate for kids around 12, he wasn’t sure he would show it to his children at their age. He also remarked that he was focused on being a dad as that was more important in his life.

About the movie, he remarked, “Yes, there is addiction and alcoholism and divorce and there’s problems that everyday people go through. But it’s also about the way we can overcome adversity and we can change and grow. […] ultimately it’s about something very different, how to live your life and function in the world.”

Later that year, the actor discussed how he communicates with his children regarding overcoming difficult situations. He stated that part of what he tells them is, “A lot of the things that you learn in the process of dealing with addiction are good life lessons anyways. Be honest, take responsibility for your mistakes and help other people.”

He noted that he tries to be honest with his kids. The actor also tells them to be honest about their feelings. Irrespective of how they feel, he wants them to be able to reach out to him, their mom, and teachers.

Affleck also ensures he is present and shows love to his kids. He wants parents to be able to forgive themselves for not being perfect. He noted, “It’s trial and error.[…] I’m not always going to do this perfectly. I’m going to do my best. I’m going to try my hardest.”

Garner, on the other hand, knew she would be a mother when she was a child. She was ready for motherhood even if it meant adopting or fostering. As a child, the actress always had a doll with her. When the actress was in her seventh or eighth grade, she had a babysitting company with her friend.

In late 2023, Garner revealed she does not have mom guilt when she’s working. She expressed, ‘Working moms get such a bad like we get all freaked out because we’re told constantly ‘you have 18 summers,’ ‘you have this much time,’ ‘time is fleeting,’ and it makes you panic.” However, she always had her mother’s support and reassurance.

She continued, “So, if you come from a place of expansiveness instead of feeling just like ‘I can’t be a mom because I’m also working, and I’m supposed to be guilty all the time,’ you better just lean into wherever you are any day exactly like right now, just be here when your kids show up, be there, and we’ll have a great time.”

The actress has always been supportive of her kids. As we previously reported, her daughter, Seraphina, was seen with a new hairdo during a public outing in February 2024. Pictures of her look sparked online chatter when it was revealed.

On Tuesday morning, the 15-year-old daughter of the ex-Hollywood couple, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, was photographed while waiting for her school bus with her mom. Photos shared online show Seraphina Affleck wearing jeans, a beige sweater, and an olive-colored backpack, sporting a buzz cut.

This edgy hairstyle change comes after the teenager, who also wore earphones, was seen with a bob late last year. Images of Seraphina, born on January 6, 2009, prompted diverse comments from the public.

Other social media users praised Seraphina’s hair, citing their opinions that she looks good with a buzz cut. In this regard, one fan gushed, “It looks so cute on her!! So many women shave their heads in fashion.” An admirer swooned, “Very adorable 💜.” Another social media user expressed, “Paying homage to Demi Moore! Showing her own style! I say a little color will make it pop!”

Although Seraphina, whose doting parents revealed her lovely name to media outlets seven days after she was born, has garnered significant traction online, she does not have a social media account. This decision was previously discussed by Seraphina Affleck’s mom, Garner, who has kept her children off social media.

Last year, Garner shared a conversation she had with her children — Seraphina, Violet, and Samuel. The “13 Going on 30” star divulged, “I just said to my kids, ‘Show me the articles that prove that social media is good for teenagers, and then we’ll have that conversation.'”

Garner went on to say that so far, her eldest daughter, Violet, has been appreciative of her mom’s decision not to allow them on social media. As a mother of two daughters in their teens and a son on the verge of teenagehood, the loving mom understands how “hard” it is “to be an adolescent.”

As far as how Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel’s doting dad feel about social media, the “Air” talent previously expressed, “I got to a place where [the public perception] was so different from who I am that I just stopped reading and stopped caring.”

However, Affleck also spoke about the difficulty he experiences as his children get older and more exposed to the internet. He specifically mentioned the false rhetoric that he is miserable based on pictures of his facial expressions.

As previously reported on February 12, 2024:

The 15-year-old daughter of former Hollywood couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner recently debuted a pink buzz cut, igniting a spectrum of reactions on social media. The change was revealed during a family outing in West Hollywood this past weekend.

Seraphina Affleck, accompanied by her father and Jennifer Lopez’s daughter, Emme Muniz, was seen visiting a thrift store. They walked out with bags after shopping around. While Seraphina wore a flannel shirt with a T-shirt underneath and Adidas sneakers, Emme opted for shorts, a baggy hoodie, and Converse sneakers.

Social media responses to Seraphina’s new hairstyle were diverse. Comments included observations on her resemblance to her father, with one user noting, “Wow, she looks like her dad.” Similarly, another expressed, “She does look like her dad. She’s beautiful.”

Others expressed concerns about youth trends, with remarks such as, “They are destroying the youth in society today. Unfortunately, the parents are allowing it to happen.” Some comments, however, celebrated this phase of exploration, stating, Totally normal youth behavior. Just deal,” and “I love her hair!”

Personal anecdotes were also shared, with individuals recounting their own or their children’s experiences during adolescence, highlighting the variety of ways young people express themselves. In this regard, someone else explained, “My daughter dressed like a Tomboy at that age and so did I.”

The reaction to Seraphina Affleck’s hair reflects broader societal conversations about youth and self-expression. Through the lens of this family outing, the public discourse navigates the complexities of individuality, parental guidance, and societal expectations.