Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are in the “best place” they have been in their relationship, an insider exclusively tells In Touch after the exes spent Christmas together.
“[Jennifer] and Ben are probably at the best place in their relationship right now. They’ve been through so much together, but they’ve stayed family focused during the ups and downs,” the source tells In Touch about the former couple, who were married from 2005 until 2018. “They both put their kids first, and they genuinely like each other.”
Ben, 52, made headlines for her divorce from Jennifer Lopez in August, and the insider explains that he “owes it all to Jen” for getting through the difficult time.
“He credits her for being supportive, which she didn’t have to do, and never dogging him out to their children,” the insider adds, referencing their kids Violet, 19, Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12. “Yes, she’s had to be brutally honest at times about their father, but it was always done in an empathetic and loving way. Violet, [Fin] and Samuel have a wonderful relationship with their dad, they adore him. Ben will always be grateful to Jen for that.”
While discussing their decision to celebrate the holiday together, the insider says that Jennifer, 52, “would never deny her kids, or Ben, the opportunity to bond, especially around Christmas.”
“She will always love Ben, who’s an amazing dad, so spending time with him this holiday was a no-brainer,” the source says about their latest Christmas celebration. “Even during their darkest times, making lifetime memories for her kids and their dad has always been something Jen has strived for.”
Not only did Ben and Jennifer spend Christmas together, but they also reunited to spend Thanksgiving together just one month earlier. They were spotted passing out food with their kids to the unhoused community in Los Angeles alongside the Midnight Mission organization on November 28, and their involvement was highlighted on the organization’s official Instagram account.
“Today, we were honored to have Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner join us at The Midnight Mission for Thanksgiving!” the organization wrote alongside a photo that showed them posing in matching white aprons. “Their kindness, warmth, and dedication brought so much joy to our Skid Row community.”
Following the charitable outing, an additional insider exclusively told In Touch that Ben leans on his ex-wife for “everything.”
“He’s got his own place but he’s still at her house all the time for family dinners and she never fails to send him home with a care package of food,” the insider explained on December 5. “She’s very concerned about his health, to the point where she reminds him when he needs to see the doctor and the dentist and even sends him vitamins to take because she’s convinced he doesn’t get enough healthy food when she’s not cooking for him.”
The source went on to explain that Ben “loves being looked after by” Jennifer, adding, “He goes to her whenever he has a big career or life decision to make for her advice.”