Jennifer Garner shared on Nov. 27 that her dog Birdie died, saying that she and kids Violet, Seraphina and Samuel—who she shares with ex Ben Affleck—were all able to say goodbye.
Jennifer Garner is paying tribute to her beloved furry friend.
The 13 Going on 30 star shared that her dog Birdie died shortly after falling ill on Nov. 21.
"It is hard to know how to write this," Jennifer began in a Nov. 27 Instagram post. "It seems nuts, given the world, to mourn a pet, but since we have shared Birdie with all of you, it only seems fair to let you know of her passing."
The 52-year-old—who shares kids Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12, with ex-husband Ben Affleck—said she realized the Golden Retriever was sick when she stopped eating her food.
"Birdie let us know on Thursday that she wasn’t feeling herself (a renowned foodie, Birdie never missed a meal)," Jen continued. "We were surprised to learn that, not only was she very ill, she was at the end of her life."
And there was a bittersweet reason Jennifer's veterinarian believed the pup waited until Thanksgiving time to let go, suggesting it could have had to do with Violet returning from Yale University, where she enrolled as a freshman this past fall.
"The vet told us that dogs often hang on until their person comes home from college," Jen explained, "and we believe Birdie did just that, so that we could pet her soft ears together and thank her for being the world’s best dog."
And while their beloved doggo is no longer with them, the Alias alum—who posted a carousel of photos and videos of her spending quality time with Birdie over the years alongside her message—said she will never forget all of the joy she brought to her life.
"Birdie loved to be read to, always found her way into a Pretend Cooking Show, and knew just how to give people what they needed (as evidenced by her happy days as a dog therapy team with Mo)," Jen shared. "She lived a happy dog life and is now in the role she was born to play: angel girl."
She added, "It’s a gift to love and be loved by such a creature as Birdie the Doggie."
Following Jen's sweet tribute, friends of the actress offered their condolences and support.
"Oh Jen… I’m so sorry. Sending so much love," pal Jennifer Aniston commented on the post, while Erin Andrews wrote, "Oh no!!!!"
Meanwhile, Tracee Ellis Ross added, "These furry beings bring so much goodness."
For more times Jennifer has provided insight into her life as a mom, keep reading.
United Front
When it comes to co-parenting, Jennifer Garner will always maintain a cordial relationship with her ex-husband Ben Affleck for the sake of their children: Violet, Seraphina and Samuel.
“It’s not Ben’s job to make me happy," Garner shared in a 2016 Vanity Fair interview. "The main thing is these kids―and we’re completely in line with what we hope for them."
She continued, "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.”
Humble Beginnings
Though she and Affleck are both successful actors, Garner doesn't want their kids to live inside a Hollywood bubble.
"It's really important for my kids to see that everyone doesn’t have the lives they see in Los Angeles," she told Southern Living. "That doesn’t reflect the rest of the world. I want them to grow up with the Southern values I had―to look at people when they say hello and to stop and smell the roses."
Model Behavior
And that's why her parenting style is very hands-on.
“I think teaching your kids anything is a lifelong job and certainly values are something―you can’t just say, ‘Here, have values!’" she previously told E! News. "You have to show them that you have values."
Explaining how setting a good example is the "most important job," the Alias alum added that she and Affleck—who she split with in 2015 after 10 years of marriage—hope that their kids "see and appreciate the work we do."
Go With the Flow
Of course, there is no one standard way of parenting.
“As much as you think that, ’OK, I’m going to follow what this person says,'" Garner noted during a 2016 appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, "it’s not up to you, dude."
Advising parents to "let it go" when it comes to their worries, the 13 Going on 30 star continued, "You’re going to struggle. It’s going to suck—just like for everyone else."
Parenting With Purpose
For Garner, the key to maintaining a good structure for her kids is setting up boundaries and rules.
"You just have to do it," she explained to Us Weekly. "It’s not pretty. I don’t think that I’m always the best at it, but I try my best to be consistent and for them to know what they can expect from me."
No Worries
And when she does experience a roadblock in her parenting journey, Garner believes "every day is a fresh start."
"You always can say, ‘Today, we’re going to try this!'" she told People. "And if it goes horribly, you can say, ‘Today, we’re throwing that out, and we’re trying this!’"
The actress added, "That’s part of what I like about being a mom in general."
Mom Life
Garner's motherhood joy extends into the cinematic universe as well.
"I’m really glad that I’m playing moms," she told Today, "because there’s no more rich time in women’s lives than when you have your babies."
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