10 Jennifer Garner Quotes That Nail Mom Life, In Honor Of Her Birthday

I find that I am by far the messiest, sloppiest, craziest! All the moms I ever see always look very put together, and I just don't get it. I don't see how they do it! But then again, I would look that way if I didn't have kids too probably.

I am not pregnant. But I’ve had three kids, and there is a ‘bump.’ From now on, ladies, I will have a ‘bump,’ and it will be my ‘baby bump,’ and let’s just all settle in and get used to it. It’s not going anywhere.

As much as you think that, ‘OK, I’m going to follow what this person says, I’m going to follow what that person says, I’m going to read this book and I’m going to have this birth plan.’ It’s not up to you, dude... I did it all, but it doesn’t matter. Let it go, don’t worry about it. You’re going to struggle. It’s going to suck just like for everyone else.

You always can say, 'Today we're going to try this! 'And if it goes horribly, you can say, 'Today we're throwing that out, and we're trying this!’ That's part of what I like about being a mom in general.

There are plenty of healthy foods my kids don’t like! I have typical picky eaters, for sure... I was the pickiest kid ever when I was little, so I try to stay calm when they turn down something I know they would love — but I’m not always successful.

Sure, I lost the dream of dancing with my husband at my daughter’s wedding. But you should see their faces when he walks through the door. And if you see your kids love someone so purely and wholly, then you’re going to be friends with that person.

My littlest one saw something he wanted. I had just said, ‘We’re not buying anything,’ and he threw a fit... And I said, ‘I’m sorry that he’s throwing a fit in your store, and you’re so sweet to want to give this to him. And thank you for asking me first. But he’s going to have to throw a fit.’ I said no...

There's an internal battle. I need to work, I need to work, I need to work, and I need to be home with my kids and the kids win...

I try to make bedtime sacred, to have some alone time with each kid every night, when it is possible, except for the nights when it’s not possible. I work, and I have a job that means that sometimes I have to go out at night, and sometimes I need to go out at night just for me.

I feel like we should just assume everyone is doing the best they can... I would just like to see a mother who really believes that she has done it all so right, you know what I mean?