Jennifer Garner reveals how she overcame working mom guilt

Jennifer Garner is setting an example for her three kids by showing them that a career, and the hard work that comes with it, can genuinely be a source of joy rather than guilt.

Jennifer Garner is setting an example for her three kids by showing them that a career, and the hard work that comes with it, can genuinely be a source of joy rather than guilt.

The 13 Going on 30 stars, who shares 20-year-old Violet, 17-year-old Seraphina, and 14-year-old Samuel with ex-husband Ben Affleck, opened up about how she balances motherhood with a busy career without carrying the weight of guilt she once felt. Speaking on ‘Today with Jenna’ & Friends, Garner explained that fulfillment plays a major role in how she approaches her work. “I get so much joy from what I do,” she said. “I really believe that any job I have had I have really loved getting in there and doing the best. I mean, I like to work. I’m a worker bee.”

That mindset was not always easy to reach, though. Garner admitted that mom guilt weighed on her heavily when her children were younger. “When they were younger, I struggled with it so much,” she recalled. Now that her kids are older, she said their perspective has shifted in a way that has brought her comfort. “But now that they are older, they are like, ‘Thank you for showing us that work is something to be enjoyed.’ It doesn’t have to just be tedious all the time,” she shared.

The 54-year-old actress, who recently finished filming The Five-Star Weekend, credited part of her guilt-free approach to simply doing work she loves. She encouraged others to let go of similar guilt in their own lives. “Let go of the guilt,” she said. “It does not serve anyone.”

In a separate conversation with InStyle, Garner elaborated on her connection to acting, describing it as something rooted in genuine passion rather than personal struggle. “I feel lucky because I really come at (acting) from a place of joy,” she said. “I am not tortured. It’s not filling a hole. I just really love to do it. And I love to be around people who love to do it.”

She also described acting as a somewhat “selfish” profession compared to a traditional job, since it does not follow the routine of school drop-offs, pickups, and being home for dinner. Still, Garner said she does not apologize to her children for the demands of her career. “When I work, I do not apologize to my kids for it. I do thank them for being so sweet about it,” she added.