Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner Lead Trend of Co-Habitating While Divorced
Affleck and Garner are said to be still living together in their $17.5M mansion.
— -- Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner may have called it quits on their 10-year marriage, but the couple was spotted vacationing together in the Bahamas last Friday, just three days after publicly announcing their split.
People magazine reports the parents of three young children have also decided to remain living together in their sprawling $17.5 million California mansion, again for the sake of their kids, ages 9, 6 and 3.
“The trip was really a chance for them to be with their children, be together as a family [and to] keep everybody out of the spotlight,” said Kate Hogan, deputy features editor for People, which published photos of Garner and Affleck on their Bahamas trip.
Affleck, 42, and Garner,43, are the latest celebrity couple to make the decision to co-parent and even vacation together after a split, following the lead of other former couples like Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow and Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie.
The pair’s decision to remain living together for their sake of their kids has its benefits, parenting experts say.
“The benefits of living in the same house if you are separated are that you have familiarity,” said Dr. Janet Taylor, a New York City-based psychiatrist. “And certainly for your children, they hopefully will have the opportunity of seeing you work something out even when it’s difficult.”
“In many ways, again, this divorce doesn’t have to be that, you know, the doors are shut, and, you know, the “War of the Roses,” Taylor said, referencing the 1989 film that depicted a vicious divorce. “Work it out in a way that doesn’t destroy you, destroy your partner or destroy your children.”
Both Affleck and Garner are now returning to work, along with caring for their kids, after their family vacation.
Affleck was spotted in Los Angeles Monday, without his wedding ring, and is scheduled to appear at Comic-Con in San Diego this weekend to promote "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," according to People.
Garner is reportedly in Atlanta now, with the couple's kids, to shoot the film "Miracles from Heaven," People reports.
