Jennifer Garner is opening up about her unique approach to parenting, and we’re all ears.
The 48-year-old actress appeared on today’s episode of Mom Brain, where she chatted with podcast hosts Hilaria Baldwin and Daphne Oz about her three children, Violet (14), Seraphina (11) and Samuel (8). Garner revealed that she’s much more laid back now that her kids are getting older, though she still faces new challenges on a daily basis.
“Every day with parenting is a fresh start to get it right, or a fresh start to try something new. It’s an experiment. And yes, you can follow the books, and I do,” she said. “I was definitely someone who, when my first was little, I was very much preparing the path for my child. I was like, ‘Oh, she’s napping. So, everyone be quiet.’”
Garner went on to share the piece of parenting advice that “has really stuck with me.” She explained, “It’s not until I had my third that I learned to prepare my child for the path, instead of preparing the path for my child.”
The Alias alum also discussed her foolproof trick for getting her children to understand how their actions affect other people.
“I feel the same way about resilience that I do about gratitude,” she said. “You can’t tell your child to be resilient, that’s so condescending. ‘Be resilient…You be resilient!’ But you can point out to them, ‘You know what’s happening right now? It’s that you are rising to a really tough occasion, and I am seeing something in you that I hope you’re really feeling proud of because this is not easy and you’re doing it.’”
Adopt us, please?
Listen to the full podcast below.
