JEN OPENS UP ABOUT PARENTING
THE STAR OF THE NEW FAMILY COMEDY YES DAY OPENS UP ABOUT PARENTING DURING A PANDEMIC AND HOW SHE’S LEARNED IT’S OK TO NOT BE OK
The technology gods aren’t smiling down on Jennifer Garner. Curled up on a chair in the LA sunshine, the actress is trying to salvage a Zoom interview that has fallen prey to spotty wi-fi. She pulls out her phone to FaceTime instead. “OK. Dear Lord, please grant me … it’s OK,” she says, laughing. “We’re getting it figured out. 2021 is not going to get us down!”
Such optimism amid chaos is exactly what Garner seems to have turned into an art form. The beloved actress, 48, is a protective mama bear to her kids Violet, 15, Seraphina, 12, and Sam, 9, with ex-husband Ben Affleck, also 48. She’s also become a social media darling with her 10.5 million Instagram followers, sharing hilarious, relatable glimpses into her determinedly normal life, which includes cooking, crafting and even raising chickens.
Garner’s new Netflix family comedy Yes Day, based on the best-selling children’s book, reflects her own family tradition of allowing her kids one day a year to do whatever they want – within reason. “I read the book to Sera when she was 3, so I was able to really plant in her mind what would be fun,” recalls Garner, who also co-produced the film. “It’s always the little things that matter.” Over a now-strong cellular connection, the West Virginia-bred actress chatted about how her family has navigated sheltering at home in LA and why she’ll never take their happiness for granted.
If you were given your own Yes Day to do whatever you wanted, what would it entail? I wouldn’t mind ice cream for breakfast, if you really think about it. I would probably go to this little cafe, Huckleberry, and have the green eggs and ham there, which is this prosciutto and pesto and homemade English muffin. Great cappuccino, a few close girlfriends. There’d be a fun group workout. Probably a walk. Enjoy a beautiful sky. With lots of talking and then probably mix in some kid time. We all just need an adventure. How have you maintained that energy for your kids while at home during the pandemic? By putting a lot of gusto in when I can and creating adventures when there are none. We started shooting silly videos, which they got tired of before I did, because I love the end result and having them forever. They started saying, “Yeah, Mum. No.” We’ve [created] a lot of restaurants. First I was the American hostess, and then I was the French waiter. And I kept changing clothes like Mrs Doubtfire. We did a beach shack and a deli in New York. We did one roller-rink restaurant where the kids were in the car and I bought the little trays that hooked onto the windows and made burgers. You just want to have a night of fun every now and then.
Where do you get all your inspiration and ideas?
I really rely on my mum friends. If a mum friend says she’s tried something and it worked, I try it. All the time. And I really do. That’s what a mum network does for each other, right? We really do raise kids in community, not in a vacuum.
What’s your secret for staying so positive?
I don’t know that I’ve stayed positive the whole time. I think I’ve had a couple of temper tantrums. And I hope [my kids] have, too. I think you have to. It’s like, have your feelings. But there’s so much to be grateful for. And then you take a deep breath and start brainstorming about what can we do to help. Like my daughter, she likes helping people on GoFundMe, so for Christmas she asked for a little GoFundMe money. She said it just gives her a lift.
OK, so when you’re having a tough day, what helps you get through it?
Oh, my girlfriends. And laughing. A good workout. I’ve done the Limit with Beth Nicely almost every day, and I always feel
“I don’t miss wearing fancy clothes. It’s too nice living in yoga pants”