Here’s a cute story from US Magazine about how Ben Affleck is excited to stay at home and take care of the kids while his wife Jennifer Garner is away shooting a film. Ben has been busy this year with several projects and we’ve seen Garner around LA with their two daughters, Violet, 5, and Seraphina, who turns two next month. All of that is about to change when Ben gets home and takes over for Jen. I know that Kaiser and many of you think that Garner carefully plays the role of a harried mom for the paparazzi, but I think that’s just who she is and that her schedule and whereabouts are so predictable that the paparazzi hound her and her family. It’s to her and Ben’s credit that they’ve remained so calm and tolerant of that.
Having just wrapped his latest flick — with costars Javier Bardem and Rachel McAdams — in Oklahoma, the actor, 38, is excited to spend time at home with wife Jennifer Garner, 38, and their daughters Violet, 5, and Seraphina, 23 months.
“My wife’s going to a movie and then it’s going to be just pure Mr. Mom time!” he told UsMagazine.com at the NYC premiere of his new drama, The Company Men, Wednesday.
Also on his to-do list: hitting the mall. The star recently admitting on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that he often picks up Garner’s Christmas presents “at, like, CVS on the 24th.”
“It sounded bad, I know!” he told Us. “When I watched it I was like, ‘I don’t come off very well here.’ But I have that experience quite a bit.”
Continued Affleck, “Basically, my wife is very in-depth with all this stuff, really sharp, very thoughtful, very thorough. And so for me, I get kind of panicked, I put things off and I just don’t know what to get so just buying her a present — I put more work into that than she does into buying fifteen!”
But her organized shopping habits aren’t the only thing the star digs about his gal. When asked his favorite thing about her, he told Us, “What’s not to love?”
[From US Weekly]
Do you guys remember that movie Mr. Mom? Michael Keaton’s character got all pudgy and lazy watching soap operas and contemplating an affair before he took charge and got his act together. (Then there was that scene where they played the theme from Rocky and he cleaned up and got his son to throw out his “wubby.”) I doubt that will happen to Ben, but I’d love to see him fill out a little like his buddy Matt Damon. He’s just too damn hot for a stay at home dad.
Affleck is promoting his film The Company Men, which premiered at Sundance and is out in the US on January 21. It also stars Chris Cooper, Kevin Costner and Tommy Lee Jones. It looks like his comeback is in full force.
Here’s the trailer, it looks really good!
Here’s Ben at the premiere of The Company Men on 12/8/10. He’s also shown out with daughter Violet on 11/6. Credit: WENN.com
Sweet. Say what you will, I think Ben & Jen are good parents.
Nice article. Great parents.
Love Ben. So Gorgeous!
I know he’s probably a doucebag, but I’ve always liked him. And her, too. And those are some cute, happy kids.
It has always driven me c-r-a-z-y when a father calls himself “Mr. Mom” if he is looking after his kids all by his lonesome – regardless if its for a few hours or on a full time basis. To me, it means a father should never take on a larger child-rearing responsibility thus they are playing Mom. What about saying “I’m excited to be a stay-at-home Dad for a change”.
Sorry if my rant seems as though its much ado about nothing. Fathers are not playing Mom if they mind their children. They are being a Dad. Aside from my pet peeve, I’m glad that Ben doesn’t mind sharing his excitement about taking over the majority of responsibilities. It helps the other parent understand what really happens during the day.
Karen, I don’t think you went overboard at all. I agree wholeheartedly. When dads say they have to “babysit” their children, I want to smack them! It isn’t baby sitting if it is your child!!! It is being responsible! I was raised by a single dad from the age of 5 and up. He never called himself Mr. Mom, and he never seemed to feel sorry for himself. I will never forget someone asking him how it felt for him to be mom and dad. He replied-I’m not. I’m just her dad, and I’m doing what I have to do.
Best dad ever 🙂
He seems like he loves his kids so he might stay home with them as long as Jen is away because when she there he can’t manage to spend more than two weeks at home before he off again. If he does stay home you know there will be no daily photos of the kids tell mom back in charge, it seems like Ben likes his privacy and Jen like the attention she gets from the paparazzi.
Thanks for sharing Samigirl. I love hearing examples such as the one you described. While my parents were married until I was 23, my father was too busy scowling, stomping around the house and betting on horses to be much of a hands-on father.
From the sounds of it, your father would have been just as hands-on whether or not he was a single or married dad. You’re a very lucky girl!
he is only happy because now he can spend time sexting and having cyber sex with the other women. He sounds like a good father…….
@karen …Oo okay….
Ben should get praise for being a good father.I know he not 24/7 with his family But would you rather he be a lazy ,douche bag dads like Scott disick or Marc Anthony ,that live off their spouse’s money and fame.At least he works hard and gives his money and time to charities.
Karen ITA with you Dads who claim to be ‘babysitting’ are being patronizing spending time with your kids shouldn’t be considered a novelty. That being said eventhough I am not a Ben fan but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that he is a good father. I am also glad that Jen is finally working again.
Who’s going to entertain the hookers while he’s kidsitting his own children? She got the crap deal out of that marriage.
Thanks, dear. I agree, wholeheartedly. Making it even better, I’m adopted. The man I proudly call daddy is not blood related to me. He always told me he never knew Gods purpose for him on this earth until he met me. 🙂 I think I’m gonna buy him lunch today!
So happy Jen is working again! And I’m on the side with CB, I think Jen has a normal schedule that the paps can follow. She keeps a schedule for her girls, give the some normalcy, or attempt it. But I do love the Dimple Parade as Kaiser so thoughtfully coined it.
Ben as stay-at-home-dad = Ben dropping the girls off at school and then going to nail Blake Lively or whichever other side-piece he’s doing at the moment. You’d better believe that he’s looking forward to Jennifer being out of town!
The kids are always smiling. Unless they are that good at putting on an act too (isn’t Seraphina barely 2 years old?) I think that attests to both Jen and Ben’s parenting skills. I don’t think Jen calls the paparazzi on herself either.
I know lots of people on here don’t care for him, a la Josh Douche-amel, but both these men qualify for HGF.
As for him staying home and being a FATHER to his children: Ben, don’t ever call it babysitting or being Mr. Mom. It’s called parenting.
@henriette, i hope lively is smart enough not to stray on the Gosdong-that would open a whole can of worm in hollywood. i mean c’mon! it’s GOSDONG!
Haters are so predictable.they can change any sweet ,harmless story into something ugly.Some people here should take a chill pill and maybe pick up a newspaper instead of the National Enquirer.Obviously,he’s saying he’s trading responsibilities with Jen not just being “the babysitter”. Iagree with Amy.All you have to do is look at pics of their children ,to see that they’re BOTH great parents
Ben stay home and play Mr Mom? when pigs fly! From what I’ve seen so far Ben’s version of Mr Mom is dropping one kid at school, leaving the other kid with the nanny and then doing whatever or whoever it is he does when the wife is not around.
He’s hot and I hope his family is as happy as they appear. Someone in Hollywood can be drama-free and lovin it!
You know, I agree with the perspective of the enlightened posters here regarding the “Mr. Mom” and babysitting references.
That being said, I believe that he is not necessarily as evolved as some but his intent is positive.
Those girls seem to be happy little campers which says something about their parents.
Lawd have mercy!! I admitted upfront that I may have been making “much ado about nothing” but I was referring to his “Mr. Mom” comment. I never said he was a bad parent. If I overheard one of your husband’s calling himself Mr. Mom, I would break my foot in his ass too! I don’t like when anyone says it…period.
You can blame my Gender Issues in Management course back in university. The course began by talking about matriarchial societies, patriarchy and continued to educate us to the injustices women have faced over centuries. It opened my eyes when we read an article about a man who hates being called Mr. Mom. Ever since, I’ve taken on the cause of slapping bitches who use that term. The End!
he is pleased she has gone away…finally he can dip his dong in some new places.