Jennifer Garner Says Her Kids Think She’s “Cringe”—And Every Parent Will Relate

Jennifer Garner is used to big Hollywood moments, but at home, she’s dealing with something far more relatable: kids who are unimpressed by their mom’s job. In a funny, down-to-earth conversation on The Jennifer Hudson Show, the actress shared that her children don’t exactly hand out “cool points” just because she’s a famous face on TV.

Garner, who shares three children with Ben Affleck—Violet (20), Seraphina (17), and Samuel (13)—said the older her kids get, the more honest (and hilariously blunt) their reactions become. Like many teens and young adults, they’re not eager to watch their parent onscreen, especially when the role gets emotional or romantic.

“Do You Need Us To?”: The Response That Says It All

When Garner asked her kids if they planned to watch Season 2 of her Apple TV+ drama The Last Thing He Told Me, she didn’t get the enthusiastic support a proud mom might hope for. Instead, she said their response was basically: “Do you need us to?”

It wasn’t mean-spirited—more like classic kid logic. To them, she’s not a celebrity. She’s just “Mom,” and watching Mom cry, kiss someone, or dive into intense storylines can feel awkward. Garner summed it up with the word younger generations love most: cringe.