Jennifer Lopez Says Raising Teenagers Feels Like Being 'Knocked Over'
Lopez’s blended family with Ben Affleck includes five children—four who are teens
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have their hands full.
During a new guest appearance on Live With Kelly and Mark, the “Let’s Get Loud” singer opened up about her and her husband’s blended family. Between them, the couple share five children in total, four of whom are teenagers.
Related article: Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck Are A Stylish, Cozy Couple During Family Outing
“That’s almost five teenagers. The youngest is 11, so he’s not quite [a teen], but preteen,” Lopez told hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. “He’s an angel.”
She added, “The teenage years are tough. They start challenging you and everything. You have this baby for a while and then it’s like your best little friend who loves being with you all the time, and all of a sudden they’re like, ‘Get out of my room.’”
Consuelos—who shares three children with Ripa—offered a few words of comfort to the multi-hyphenate: “But, you know they come back when they’re in their 20s.”
“Twenties?!” Lopez replied. “Jesus Christ! I’m so depressed.”
Related article: Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck Reunited With Jen Garner For Family Outing
Lopez shares her 15-year-old twins, Max and Emme, with ex-husband Marc Anthony. Meanwhile, Affleck shares three children—17-year-old Violet, 14-year-old Seraphina, and 11-year-old Samuel—with ex-wife Jennifer Garner.
“It’s crazy, I feel like I had them yesterday. They were just babies a little while ago,” Lopez continued. “It’s the time when they are individuating and they are challenging everything you say and everything you do and everything you are. And that’s what it is. And you have to kind of just ride the waves. I feel like it’s like surfing. I’m just riding the waves—whoops, just got knocked over. Now, I’m back! I’m back!”
She also described the struggles of being a mother of teenagers.
Related article: Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck Make Their Grammys Debut
“I think it’s particularly hard on moms a little bit. Because they always kind of love Dad,” she said. “They are always kind of like, ‘Dad’s the best.’ And I was like that with my dad too. My mom told me—and I’ll say it to you right now on TV in front of everybody—I understand you so much more now.”
This article originally appeared in Harper’s BAZAAR US.