Ben Affleck rates his parenting next to Jennifer Garner’s

Ben Affleck is joking that he can’t quite keep up with ex-wife Jennifer Garner when it comes to parenting their three children.

The 54-year-old actor made the admission in a clip from an interview with Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist, which airs in full on NBC on Sunday, October 11.

“Their mom is spectacular, and always makes me feel like I’m coming up a little short,” he told the outlet, adding that he tells his kids he is doing about 75% as good as their mom, and they answer, “Maybe 40%.” 

“I’m maxing out. B+,” he added.

Affleck and Garner, also 54, share Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 14. They married in June 2005 and separated a decade later. “I respect her. I’m grateful for her,” he said. “I think the most important thing is, you know, having that mutual respect, being able to get along with that person.” Garner is currently dating tech CEO John Miller.

Earlier this week, Affleck told Variety he is “really, really grateful” for Garner. He said the kids spend a week with him, then a week with their mom. “They have a great thing with their mom,” he said. “I know things will come up that are hard, and I don’t want to jinx that, but this time in my life as a human being is really wonderful.”

He also said he picks projects based in Los Angeles so he can stay close to his family. “I’m divorced, I have shared custody, and I don’t want to miss these years,” he said. “My kids are here, and their life is flying by.”