Jennifer Garner is not apologizing for going back to work.
The ’13 Going on 30′ actress, 51, opened up in a new InStyle interview about rebuilding her career after years of centering motherhood. Garner shares three children with ex-husband Ben Affleck, and she said there were long stretches when acting simply was not the priority.
For Garner, this new stage is not about stepping away from her kids. It is about finally making room for herself again.
Jennifer Garner Says She Barely Worked For Years
Garner said she kept her career light when her children were young. Then came a major family shift.
“When my kids were little, I barely worked,” Garner said. “Then we had such an upheaval in our family that I hardly worked for a long time.”
Garner and Affleck separated in 2015 and finalized their divorce in 2018 after 10 years of marriage. The former couple has continued to co-parent their children since the split.
Now, Garner said she has been grateful to spend more time acting again over the past 18 months. Still, she does not pretend the job is easy on family life.
“It’s all about your schedule,” Garner said. “It’s not about what the kids have going on at school. It’s not about pickups and drop-offs and making it home for dinner.”
Why Garner Does Not Apologize To Her Kids
Garner said she chooses projects carefully and mainly takes roles that film in Los Angeles. That helps her avoid uprooting her family or being away more than necessary.
Her latest role is in Peacock’s upcoming series ‘The Five-Star Weekend,’ where she plays a widowed food blogger entering a new chapter. Garner said she understands that feeling deeply.
“I connect with that feeling of, ‘Okay, I gave everything to mothering. I’m still their mom, I’m not going anywhere, I’m still all-in,'” she said.
Then came the other half of the truth.
“But I’m also really grateful to have this part of my life back,” Garner added.
That is the line many working parents may recognize fast. Loving your kids does not mean disappearing inside parenthood forever.
Garner Says Work Is Part Of Life
Garner said she does not apologize to her children when work takes her away. Instead, she thanks them for understanding.
“When I work, I don’t apologize to my kids for it,” she said. “I do thank them for being so sweet about it.”
She also wants them to understand that work, mistakes and imperfect days all belong in the same life.
“Working hard is part of life, and messing up is part of life,” Garner said. “Tripping and falling, there’s room for all of it.”
Garner is not the only famous mom talking about this tension. Ayesha Curry has said she does not want motherhood to become her entire identity. Keira Knightley has also described working parenthood as something every family has to make work in its own messy way.
Garner’s version is simple. She is still their mom. She is still all-in. But she is also allowed to have a career that belongs to her.
