Ben Affleck says parenting alongside Jennifer Garner gives him a tough standard to meet.
In his October 11 interview with Willie Geist on Sunday TODAY, the actor praised his ex-wife and joked about the less flattering marks he gets from their children.
Affleck and Garner share Violet, 20, Fin, 17, and Samuel, 14.
The former couple married in 2005, separated in 2015 and finalized their divorce in 2018.
Affleck Says His Kids Give Him a Lower Parenting Score
“Their mom is spectacular,” Affleck told Geist, adding that she makes him feel as though he is “coming up a little short,” as InStyle reported.
He recalled telling the children that he thought he was doing about 75% as well as their mother. They offered a considerably lower estimate, closer to 40%. “I’m maxing out, B+!” he joked.
“I respect her. I’m grateful for her,” he said. Affleck also emphasized the importance of getting along with the person with whom you are raising children.
Affleck Describes Their Alternating Weeks With the Kids
In a separate interview with Variety, Affleck described a routine built around work, school pickups and dinner with the children, provided they agree to spend the evening with him. “They’re with me for a week, then with their mom for a week,” he said.
Shared custody also influences where he works. Affleck said he wants to keep making films in Los Angeles because his children live there and he does not want to miss this part of their lives by taking jobs elsewhere.
He acknowledged that being able to choose locations is a privilege, with many people in the industry unable to make the same decision.
Garner Says Affleck’s Support Gives Her More Freedom to Work
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Garner paid tribute to Affleck on Father’s Day in June, sharing family photographs and writing about how much their children “dote on their dad.” Her post also honored her own father. “To love and be loved by a great dad is a gift,” she wrote.
In a July 16 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Garner called Affleck an “incredible co-parent” while discussing her series The Five Star Weekend.
She had initially turned down the project because filming in Nova Scotia would have meant four months away from her children. Producers subsequently arranged to shoot mostly in Los Angeles, with a month in Nantucket.
Garner said the children could stay with Affleck during that trip. “He’s wonderful. He takes care of them. He’s a great partner in that way,” she said.
Affleck Still Wants to Work With Garner Again
Affleck’s latest film, Animals, began streaming on Netflix on October 9. He directed the thriller and stars opposite Kerry Washington. Garner had initially been considered for the film alongside Matt Damon.
During the Variety interview, Affleck agreed that once he replaced Damon, casting Garner as his wife risked viewers projecting the former couple’s real relationship onto the fictional one. “And I still want to find something to do with her,” he said.