Jennifer Garner discussed how parenting shifted after her split from Ben Affleck, saying the arrangement required both parents to take on wider roles. In a recent conversation on Bustle’s podcast One Nightstand, the 53-year-old actress described becoming both ‘mom and dad’ at times while raising their three children across two households. Garner, who shares Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 13, with Affleck, said the change brought a sense of loss but also growth for her and her family. The comments follow a year of public moments that included Garner celebrating Once Upon a Farm going public and Affleck speaking proudly about his children.
Key Takeaways
- Garner said she plays expanded parenting roles after the 2015 split and 2018 divorce, noting practical shifts when children live between two homes.
- The actress is 53 and is mother to Violet (20), Seraphina (17) and Samuel (13), facts she reiterated while discussing family life.
- Garner spoke on Bustle’s One Nightstand podcast, describing both a ‘little bit of loss’ and things gained from co-parenting separately.
- In February, Garner and her son Samuel appeared together on the New York Stock Exchange floor as Once Upon a Farm went public, a visible family moment.
- Affleck, at a film premiere this past October, publicly praised his children and credited Garner for their qualities, calling his children a source of pride.
- Garner told Marie Claire UK she has enjoyed watching her children enter adolescence and adulthood, and that her role has shifted toward restraint and trust.
Background
Garner and Affleck separated in 2015 after a decade together and finalized their divorce in 2018. Since then they have maintained a co-parenting partnership while pursuing separate personal and professional lives. The family has occasionally appeared together in public settings, and both parents have commented intermittently on parenting in interviews and at industry events.
Co-parenting across two households has become more visible among high profile ex couples, and Garner framed her own experience as both practical and emotional. She described the need for parents in split households to adopt qualities traditionally associated with both maternal and paternal roles, a pattern that reflects broader conversations about gendered expectations in parenting. The Garner Affleck household dynamics are shaped by public careers, the children s ages, and a shared focus on keeping family life steady despite public attention.
Main Event
On Bustle s One Nightstand podcast, Garner explained that raising children in two homes requires parents to cover a broader emotional and practical range. She said that when children spend time in separate residences, each parent naturally takes on aspects of both nurturing and discipline. Garner noted this has led to an experience that includes loss, for example missing the combined yin and yang of two parents under one roof, but also unexpected gains in resilience and perspective.
The family s public calendar has underscored those shifts. In February, Garner walked the New York Stock Exchange floor with her son Samuel as Once Upon a Farm went public, a business milestone that doubled as a family appearance. Photographs from that day showed a close mother son interaction, which Garner later referenced when discussing how parental roles change as children grow older and more independent.
Affleck has also offered brief public remarks about co-parenting. At the October premiere of a film he produced, he praised his children and acknowledged his partnership with Garner in raising them. His comments highlighted pride and gratitude, and were widely reported as an example of cordial post divorce cooperation between two public figures.
Analysis & Implications
Garner s description of taking on both maternal and paternal responsibilities reflects a practical adaptation rather than a moral failing on either side. When households split, responsibilities that once rested primarily with one parent must be redistributed, which can change daily routines, discipline strategies and emotional labor. That redistribution can produce stress but also force clarity about priorities and parenting philosophies.
For children, moving between two homes can mean encountering slightly different expectations and rules. Experts often say consistency between households helps reduce anxiety, yet Garner s comments suggest families can find new strengths in dual environments. The experience may teach children flexibility and negotiation, while parents learn to let go and trust their offspring to make choices.
At a societal level, high profile examples like Garner and Affleck shape public perceptions of modern co parenting. Their relatively public cooperation offers a model for separating couples who aim to prioritize children s wellbeing. Economically, both parents continued to work and support commercial ventures, illustrating how parenting transitions occur alongside ongoing careers and business milestones.
Comparison & Data
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Garner and Affleck separated after ten years together |
| 2018 | Divorce finalized |
| Recent February | Once Upon a Farm went public, Garner appeared at NYSE with son Samuel |
| Recent October | Affleck publicly praised his children at a film premiere |
The timeline shows how family and business developments have interleaved since the split. These public moments provide context for Garner s remarks and reflect an ongoing, lived co parenting arrangement rather than a single event.
Reactions & Quotes
‘You kind of cannot help it because you do not have both sides of the yin and yang in one home,’ Garner said while describing the practical realities of parenting across two households.
Bustle podcast One Nightstand (interview)
‘I could not be more proud of my children,’ Affleck said when asked about his kids at a recent film premiere, framing his relationship with them in terms of pride and gratitude.
Access Hollywood (entertainment interview)
‘It is more about parenting with a button on my mouth,’ Garner told Marie Claire UK, summarizing a shift toward restraint as children grow into teens and adults.
Marie Claire UK (magazine interview)
Unconfirmed
- Reports that Garner s parenting approach is coordinated by a formal legal plan were not confirmed by either parent in recent interviews.
- Any private scheduling arrangements between Garner and Affleck regarding holidays and school events have not been publicly detailed and remain private.
Bottom Line
Jennifer Garner s comments underscore how co parenting after a high profile split can reshape daily roles for both parents. Her framing of a ‘little bit of loss’ alongside gains captures an experience of adaptation rather than failure, highlighting the practical trade offs when children split time between households.
For readers, the larger takeaway is that co parenting often requires renegotiation of responsibilities, clearer communication and an acceptance of changed dynamics as children mature. Garner and Affleck s public cooperation offers one example of how separated parents can focus on stability and pride in their children while managing separate personal lives.
Sources
- Yahoo News UK (news outlet reporting on People interview)
- Bustle (podcast One Nightstand interview)
- Marie Claire UK (magazine interview)
- Access Hollywood (entertainment interview)
- New York Stock Exchange (business event)