“A rare reunion no one expected…” — Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck reunite for their son’s birthday — just after she opened up about their struggles behind the scenes

Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck reunite to celebrate son Samuel’s 14th birthday after actress shared their co-parenting struggles

Jennifer Affleck and Ben Affleck stepped out to celebrate their son Samuel’s 14th birthday after the actress opened up about co-parenting their three children.

The exes were photographed walking together at Combat Paintball Park in Castaic, Calif., on Saturday afternoon.

Garner kept her head down while Affleck looked straight ahead as they carried their gear.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner walking across a grassy field with paintball gear.
Jennifer Affleck and Ben Affleck were photographed celebrating their son Samuel’s 14th birthday on Saturday.BACKGRID
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner walking across a grassy area, with Affleck holding paintball gear.
The exes stepped out to Combat Paintball Park in Castaic, Calif.BACKGRID

Samuel and two of his friends followed shortly behind.

At one point, Garner and Affleck, both 53, who wed in 2005 and separated in 2016, roamed the property separately.

The duo also shares kids Violet, 20, and Seraphina, 17.

Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, and children walking across a grassy hill at Combat Paintball Park.
They were seen walking with their son and his friends following behind.BACKGRID
Ben Affleck at Combat Paintball Park for his son's birthday.
At one point, Affleck was spotted alone.BACKGRID

Garner and Affleck’s joint outing comes after the “13 Going on 30” star got candid about raising their kids since their 2015 separation.

“When your kids grow up in two separate households, I become mom and dad, and he becomes dad and mom,” Garner said on the “One Nightstand” podcast last month.

“You kind of can’t help it, right? Because you don’t have the benefit of both sides, the yin and yang being in the same house, so you have to have a bit of both in the way you parent.”

Ben Affleck wearing a white shirt and open dark shirt over it, with a yellow wristband, covered in paint, at a paintball park.
The “Gone Girl” star sported a white T-shirt and gray jeans.BACKGRID
Jennifer Garner walking with a phone and tote bag.
Garner rocked a white tank top and blue jeans.BACKGRID

The “Alias” alum explained there was “a little bit of a loss in that” but also “something gained,” saying, “You also just learn, it’s made me let go and not focus so much on the bringing up.”

Garner and Affleck have amicably co-parented their children throughout the years with several family outings, including birthdays and holidays.

Last March, they were spotted being affectionate and warmly holding hands during another paintball outing with Samuel.

Ben Affleck and his son Samuel Garner Affleck at a basketball game.
The “Alias” actress and the “Argo” star, seen here with Samuel in December 2022, often come together to celebrate birthdays and holidays.Getty Images
Actress Jennifer Garner and her son Samuel Affleck on the sidelines at a soccer game.
Garner, photographed here with son Samuel in 2024, and Affleck also share two other kids.Getty Images

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The following month, they came together to celebrate Easter with their kids.

The “Daredevil” co-stars also appeared in good spirits while taking their youngest two kids, Samuel and Seraphina, to a Red Sox game that July and to the movies last September.

The “Gone Girl” actor, who was last married to Jennifer Lopez from 2022 to 2025, is seemingly single, while Garner has been dating businessman John Miller since 2018.

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