The “13 Going on 30” star quietly marked Father’s Day with a gesture that offered a rare glimpse into her family life — and a nod to her past with her ex-husband.
Jennifer Garner took a moment to honor Ben Affleck on Father’s Day with a rare and touching gesture. On Sunday, June 15, 2025, the 53-year-old actress posted a tribute to the “Gone Girl” actor on her Instagram Stories.
The tribute included a never-before-seen photo of Ben, 52, lying on a couch with one of their three children peacefully sleeping on his chest. The candid snapshot served as a warm nod to their shared history and ongoing commitment to their family.
Jennifer’s parenting approach, marked by honesty and deep affection for her children, has been evident in past interviews. Speaking with Allure in May 2023, the actress acknowledged the unique challenges that come with being both a mother and a public figure.
“They don’t mind watching their dad, but they kind of want me to be their mom,” she shared. “They don’t want to see me upset and women cry more in what we do. And they don’t really want to see me in a romantic thing.”
Her reflections went beyond just entertainment preferences. The “Elektra” alum opened up about the complexities of parenting in the modern age and her hopes for her children’s future.
“Your kids will really figure out who they are and what they are when they’re older, and most likely they will hew toward lovely,” she said.
While acknowledging that she doesn’t “love every behavior all the time, always,” she described growing up as “gnarly” and noted the pressures today’s youth face compared to earlier generations.
“I was such a first-time mom,” Jennifer admitted, referencing the intensity with which she parented her eldest daughter. “She couldn’t have a free thought — I was all over her. I was a nightmare for everyone around me.”
Despite the challenges, her words convey a strong belief in her children and a continuing effort to guide them with empathy. Her Father’s Day tribute to Ben stands as another testament to the cooperative spirit she brings to parenting — one built on respect, reflection, and enduring care.
That same quiet strength and familial closeness were on display just weeks earlier (May 18), when Jennifer stepped out with her eldest daughter, Violet, during a casual outing that captured public attention.
The duo, seen leaving Whole Foods in Los Angeles, sparked conversations online, not just for their matching casual styles but also for Violet’s unexpected height and poised presence, which caught the attention of fans and passersby alike.
Dressed in comfortable yet stylish activewear, the mother and daughter made a quick stop at the store, where the teen’s stature quickly stole the spotlight.
Despite Jennifer’s own tall frame at five feet, eight inches, she appeared noticeably shorter beside her 19-year-old daughter, who stood confidently in a pair of ordinary chunky sneakers.
Netizens also noted how much Violet resembles both her parents, including her father, Ben, who is six feet, three inches tall.
The young woman, currently a student at Yale, chose not to wear her usual face mask and carried a single grocery bag while walking beside her mom. Jennifer, often admired for her down-to-earth presence, wore leopard print leggings, a black sweater, and trainers.
Online reactions to the photo poured in quickly, with fans commenting on everything from Violet’s impressive height to her resemblance to her parents.
One person wrote, “NO WAY.” Another said, “I thought the tall one was Jennifer. Wow. Twins.” A third chimed in, “WOW 😳 SHE IS GROWING UP, VERY QUICK.”
Others were quick to comment on her stature, with one remarking, “She would good for girls basketball team with that height [sic].” One netizen wrote, “She is so tall,” and another added, “She looks like a clone of her mom lol but only with Ben’s height.”
One person shared, “Can’t even tell who is who.” One comment summed up the visual impact of their outing: “The height difference is so alarming.”
Jennifer and Violet’s close family dynamic has long been evident in their public moments and personal milestones. Last year, the “Alias” actress posted an emotional tribute on Instagram for Violet’s high school graduation.
“Tell me you have a graduate without telling me you have a graduate. 🎓 (bless our hearts 🥺♥️🤣),” she captioned a series of tearful photos and videos of herself.
That celebration was a meaningful reflection of the bond within the family that Jennifer and Ben have built over the years. The former couple, who married in 2005 and finalized their divorce in 2018, have continued to co-parent their three children — Violet, 19, Seraphina, 16, and Samuel, 13.
Their relationship began in 2004 following Ben’s split from Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer’s divorce from Scott Foley. Despite the end of their marriage, the two remain on good terms as co-parents.
In an April 2025 interview with GQ, Ben praised his ex-wife, “I’m really lucky that I have a really good co-parent and partner in Jennifer Garner, the kids’ mom, who’s wonderful and great and we work together well.”
Meanwhile, Jennifer has frequently shared her perspective on parenting, particularly during her children’s teenage years. At the 2023 premiere of her show “The Last Thing He Told Me,” she spoke about how challenging this phase can be for today’s youth.
“I just have a huge heart for teenagers. I love them. I love what they’re going through. I see how hard it is to be a teen right now,” she told People.
She compared her real-life parenting with the character she plays on-screen, noting that while the teen in the series is difficult, her own children are not. However, she also emphasized the importance of being open-minded: “I mean, I’m learning as much from them, or more from them, than they’ll ever learn from me.”
