Ben Affleck Reveals Why He Had Tough Dad Rules for Son vs. Playful Rivalry with Daughter

Being a celebrity parent is an experience most of us will never have — but the weight of parenthood is something we all understand. Ben Affleck takes a unique approach, embracing each of his children’s individual personalities. He gives us a rare look into his close bond with them and how he balances fatherhood while living in the public eye.

In Ben Affleck’s world of fatherhood, it’s all about fun and friendly competition.

Ben Affleck, proud father of three — Violet (19), Fin (16), and Samuel (13) — whom he shares with his first ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, recently opened up about a lighthearted rivalry he shares with his eldest daughter.

During an appearance on the Today show, the 52-year-old actor revealed that he and Violet are locked in a playful Spanish language competition. “My daughter is a student of Spanish and often competes with me,” he joked. “She’ll tell me hers is better than mine, and I’m glad I had the chance to be on national television and just claim victory.”

Affleck, who learned Spanish in his youth and studied it at the University of Vermont, now finds himself up against his freshman daughter at Yale University — making their friendly challenge both fun and impressively academic.

He’s strict when it comes to money and how it’s spent.

While he’s all for supporting the growth of his children, in a recent clip that went viral, Ben proved that he is not exempt from drawing lines when necessary.

In the clip, Samuel shows interest in a pair of Dior Air Jordan 1s at a sneaker convention that cost $6000, but his father’s response shut down his hope of getting them that day. “That’s a lot of lawns you gotta mow there,” Affleck chimed in.

Affleck later explained his stance, saying, “Listen, you love your kids — you want to give them everything and do anything for them.” However, he made it clear that setting boundaries is essential, and he won’t do them the disservice of avoiding that responsibility.

Ben’s kids know the reality of hard work.

Firm in his stance, Affleck shared that his two oldest kids already have jobs — Violet is working while balancing her studies and looking for a summer internship, and Fin is currently employed at a shop.

As for his youngest, Samuel, Affleck seems focused on teaching him the value of money. “I’m like, ’Well, if you want that, you can work 1,000 hours at minimum wage — and if you work 1,000 hours, you might not want to spend it on a pair of shoes,’” the actor said.

His children are the heart of his life.

While Affleck loves acting and directing, he admits that time with his children is what he values most.

“The one regret I have about all the movies that I’ve directed is the amount of time it’s taken me away from my kids,” he told GQ in an exclusive interview. “I love making art. I loved making The Town. But I was away from my kids for long periods of time. There’s little chunks that I missed, and that doesn’t feel good.”

At the end of the day, his biggest goal is to be home when his kids get off the bus: “And that means more to me than any of it. That makes me happier.”

Meanwhile, Khloé Kardashian shares sultry bikini photos while relaxing with her kids — but one detail sparks heated controversy.