This Thanksgiving looked a little different for Jennifer Garner.
Instead of the familiar sight of her standing side-by-side with Ben Affleck on the holiday food line, she showed up on her own to serve meals to those in need—still cheerful, still engaged, just moving solo this time around.
A Co-Parenting Partnership That Never Really Fades
Garner and Affleck, both 53 now, have built a reputation for unusually warm co-parenting since separating nearly ten years ago.
Their three children—Violet, now 19, Fin, 16, and Samuel, 13—have grown up with the pair navigating holidays, milestones, and everyday routines as a united front, even long after their romantic relationship ended.
Last Year’s Reunion After Lopez Filed
The public saw that bond in full view last Thanksgiving, shortly after Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Affleck on their second anniversary.
At the time, Garner was reportedly someone he relied on heavily during the emotional fallout.
They volunteered together at The Midnight Mission’s holiday meal in Los Angeles, chatting closely behind the serving tables and wearing matching aprons as their kids helped out.
Returning to Skid Row—This Time on Her Own
Garner kept her annual tradition going by returning to The Midnight Mission this year, but Affleck didn’t join her.
She worked the buffet stations with her usual warmth, scooping what looked like scallion mashed potatoes for guests at the event.
The nonprofit expected to provide more than 2,500 meals during the street-festival-style gathering, supported by corporate sponsors like Albertsons and Bank of America.
The Family’s Plans for the Day
According to a source who spoke to the Daily Mail, Affleck spent Thanksgiving with Garner, their children, and Garner’s longtime partner, businessman John Miller.
The mood, they said, was intentionally calm: football, food, and a low-key atmosphere before Affleck returns to the set of his latest film.
The idea was simple—no drama, just a peaceful family day.
Affleck Still Turning to Garner for Steadiness
Not long after, another insider claimed Affleck continued leaning on Garner for guidance as he navigated the collapse of his marriage to Lopez.
They described a routine in which he frequently visits her home for meals, returns with leftovers, and seeks her advice on both career moves and personal crossroads.
One source told People that the exes and their kids spent Thanksgiving daytime volunteering as a unit before Miller joined Garner for the evening.
A Marriage That Ran Out of Road
Lopez officially filed for divorce in August 2024 after months of speculation that things between her and Affleck were unraveling.
Through all of it, insiders said Affleck felt “blessed” to have Garner nearby—someone with whom he could let his guard down.
Their long shared history, plus the bond of raising three children, created a level of comfort he hasn’t easily found elsewhere.
A Complicated Past, but a Steady Present
Affleck and Garner originally split in 2015 amid widespread reports of an inappropriate relationship between him and their nanny, Christine Ouzounian.
Garner later clarified that the relationship with Affleck had already ended months before those rumors surfaced. Despite the chaos of that chapter, they maintained a remarkably close family routine—church outings, shared school duties, and showing up for their kids as a unit.
Garner’s Role During Affleck’s Lowest Point
That closeness showed again in 2018 when Affleck had a public relapse.
Garner was the one who arrived with a sober coach and a Bible, then drove him to rehab while he sat exhausted and disheveled in the backseat, clutching takeout she had packed for him.
It was a moment that captured the depth of care between them, even long after their marriage ended.
Before Affleck, Another Hollywood Chapter
Long before the Affleck years, Garner was married to actor Scott Foley from 2000 to 2004—a familiar face from shows like Felicity, Scrubs, and Scandal.
But it’s her partnership with Affleck, even post-divorce, that continues to draw attention for the steady, blended-family rhythm they’ve managed to build.
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