Kaylah Walton
Jennifer Garner, the beloved actress recognized for her roles in Alias and 13 Going on 30, offered some poignant relationship advice during her appearance on the Lipstick on the Rim podcast. When asked for her favorite saying, Jennifer, now 52, reflected on her mother’s wise words, Patricia Garner: “Never expect a man – don’t marry a man thinking you can change him.”
This advice struck a chord with listeners, and Jennifer added with humor that she might need to “work on that one,” leaving it unclear if she meant her own past relationships or if she was just joking.
Jennifer has gone through two marriages, first to Scott Foley from 2000 to 2004 and then to Ben Affleck from 2005 to 2018. While she kept her discussions of these relationships brief, she once mentioned to Vanity Fair that her split from Foley was affected by the fast-paced lifestyle of Hollywood.
About her relationship with Affleck, she characterized him as a “complicated guy,” highlighting that “When his sun shines on you, you feel it. But when the sun is shining elsewhere, it’s cold. He can cast quite a shadow.”
Jennifer shares valuable lessons on love from her mother
During her podcast chat, Jennifer offered more “vintage Pat Garner” wisdom, sharing two cherished quotes: “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning,” and “Happiness is your own responsibility.” These phrases reflect her values of resilience and self-reliance.
Although Jennifer did not go in-depth about her marriages, she did mention her three children with Affleck: Violet, 18; Seraphina, 15; and Samuel, 12. She agreed with podcast hosts Molly Sims and Emese Gormley, who praised her children for being “resilient” and “amazing.”
It’s evident that parenting is essential for Jennifer and Affleck, as they were recently seen celebrating Thanksgiving together with their kids, also participating in charitable acts by serving meals to the homeless in Los Angeles through Midnight Mission.
Meanwhile, Affleck is dealing with his second divorce following his split from Jennifer Lopez earlier this year. Despite their separation, Lopez expressed gratitude in her Thanksgiving Instagram post, reflecting on her own celebrations and noting that she feels “so incredibly grateful.”
