Jennifer Garner looked cheerful on Sunday as she stepped out in Brentwood with two of her children, whom she shares with ex-husband Ben Affleck.
The Alias star, 52, who recently saw off her ex’s eldest daughter Violet, 18, as she headed off to college, was joined by the former couple’s younger sons Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12.
Dressed in a chic floral summer dress, the star flashed a big smile as she carried a potted plant alongside her adorable children.
Fin sported a printed T-shirt and cargo shorts, while Samuel covered his rear in a bright blue shirt and faded jeans.
The family outing comes a day after the Dallas Buyers Club alum, who split from Affleck in 2018, enjoyed a romantic dinner with boyfriend John Miller.
Jennifer Garner looked cheerful on Sunday as she stepped out in Brentwood with Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12, whom she shares with ex-husband Ben Affleck.
The Alias star, 52, who recently saw off the exes’ eldest daughter Violet, 18, as she headed off to college, was joined by the former couple’s younger children.
Miller, 46, is an attorney and currently serves as CEO of CaliBurger and its parent company CaliGroup.
The couple was seen laughing as they left a restaurant together in Brentwood.
Garner reportedly offered her friendship to Affleck, 52, prior to his divorce from Jennifer Lopez, 55, after two years of marriage.
However, Garner’s attempt to help Ben caused a “rift” in her own relationship with Miller, and a source told DailyMail.com earlier this week that they are now working to be in a “better place”.
“John doesn’t like sharing Jen and there’s a rift between her and Ben,” the source said, adding that Miller was concerned about the amount of time the 13 Going On 30 actress devoted to Ben and Lopez’s split.
“He wishes it weren’t like that because he understands that they are a family, but it affects him like it would anyone.”
“John has no fears about them getting back together, but it’s been difficult to deal with her supporting Ben during his split from JLo,” the source continued.
Following the divorce news, the source said of Garner and Miller’s relationship: “The rocky roads that have arisen lately seem to be smoothing out.”
The actress was reported to have befriended Affleck, 52, in the run-up to his divorce from Jennifer Lopez, 55, after two years of marriage; seen in 2014.
The former couple, who were previously married from 2005 to 2018, share Violet, 18, Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12; seen in 2018
“Both Jen and John have that hope. It’s just going to take a little time. They both want to be in a better place, but something needs to be done.”
The actress and Miller “have not broken up” and said that their “friends feel that they will be together for a long time. They are very private.”
Since their split in 2018, both Garner and Affleck have worked to have a good co-parenting relationship for the sake of their children.
“Her kids are taking it well, as are Lopez’s kids. They are all ready to move on,” a source said. Page sixLopez shares 16-year-old twins Emme and Max with ex-husband Marc Anthony.
The news comes amid reports that Ben’s “mood swings” were allegedly part of the reason he and Lopez split.
The Golden Globe winner, who “has a bit of a darkness” in him, has driven a wedge into his relationship with the “Let’s Get Loud” singer with his uncontrollable “ups and downs,” a source close to the former couple said. PEOPLE on Saturday.
He and the New York native filed for divorce on August 20, which also coincided with their second wedding anniversary.
“There was a lot of love there, but what was also sadly clear were Ben’s erratic mood swings that he couldn’t hide from the press, no matter how hard he tried,” the source said.
The news comes amid reports that Ben’s “mood swings” were allegedly part of the reason he and Lopez split; seen in 2022 in Los Angeles
“You could see the erratic behavior, the huge mood swings,” the source added, explaining that he can go from “being incredibly happy and warm, the best light coming from him” to exposing “his deepest, darkest behavior.”
They claimed the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice actor tried to hide his unhinged behavior from the public.
The source added: “I think he was sending a message to the press, but he still took part.”
Making the decision to go their separate ways again was not easy because they both still have lingering feelings for each other.
“They were trying to get over it, but when the mood swings and huge ups and downs created general toxicity, no one could help you, you had to help yourself,” the source added.
“But I wouldn’t go so far as to say there isn’t love, of course there is,” the source admitted. “The world was rooting for them, but who he said he was and who he turned out to be were two different people.”
Ben and Jen began dating in 2002 after playing lovers on the set of Gigli (2003) and quickly became engaged.
But they separated in 2004, just before becoming husband and wife.
The Golden Globe winner, who “has some darkness,” drove a wedge into his relationship with the Let’s Get Loud singer with his uncontrollable “ups and downs”; seen in 2024
According to a new report from People, it was alleged that Lopez also had something to do with getting Affleck to focus more on his children.
They both went on to marry other people (she exchanged vows with Marc Anthony in 2004, while he married Jennifer Garner in 2005), but after splitting from their respective partners, they eventually found their way back to each other.
They rekindled their romance in 2021 and finally said ‘I do’ in Las Vegas in July 2022.
Meanwhile, Garner has several projects listed as in pre-production on IMDB.com, including the crime drama Can’t Go Home.
She plays fugitive recovery agent KD Williams, who, along with her partner, played by Tom Mariano, becomes too involved with Boston’s criminal gangs.