During a recent episode of the “Aspire with Emma Grede” podcast, actress Jennifer Garner spoke candidly about the financial uncertainty she experienced shortly after her marriage to Ben Affleck ended. Garner, who shares three children with Affleck, said she “panicked” when she realized she had taken a step back in her career and was unsure how long she could continue working at the same pace.
“I panicked when I was first out of my marriage and realized I had taken such a step back in my work,” Garner said. “Suddenly I realized I don’t know how long I’ll be able to work. This isn’t a career where you can say, ‘Hey, you’re 60, you’re 55, you’re 43, come on, let’s pay you more than you’ve ever made.'” She added that the situation forced her to confront the responsibility of providing for herself and her children.
Balancing motherhood and career
Garner explained that the demands of motherhood limited her ability to take on long‑term film projects that required months away from home. “I can’t leave these kids for six months at a time,” she said. “I would love to. I love going on location, but it’s not this time in my career.” The actress highlighted the challenge of being present for her children while still pursuing professional opportunities.
Reflecting on her marriage, Garner noted that she was fortunate to have periods where she could work and also be home with her family. “I was really grateful for that opportunity. I got to kind of have the best of both worlds, so I can’t really look back and complain about any of it… it is what it is,” she said.
Entrepreneurial step forward
Two years after her divorce, Garner co‑founded the organic children’s food company Once Upon A Farm, expanding her professional portfolio beyond acting. She said the experience of navigating a public split and raising three children taught her the importance of self‑compassion and accepting imperfection.
“You have to raise yourself at the same time and be radically kind to yourself about how imperfect it is,” Garner said. “There’s no such thing as balance. There’s no such thing as doing it right. When the big moments happen, you are okay, and that’s on you to know and understand so your child feels your okayness.”
Co‑parenting after divorce
Garner also discussed the realities of co‑parenting when children split time between two households. “When your kids grow up in two separate households, I become mom and dad, and he becomes dad and mom,” she said. “You kind of can’t help it, right? Because you don’t have the benefit of both sides in the same house, so you have to have a bit of both in the way you parent.” She acknowledged both loss and gain in the arrangement, emphasizing the need to let go of perfection.
Garner’s reflections offer a glimpse into the financial and emotional challenges faced by working parents, especially after a high‑profile divorce, and underscore the importance of resilience and adaptability.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
