Ben Affleck, father of three with wife Jennifer Garner, isn’t afraid to tell the truth about wanting to work. While the actor could feasibly be a stay-at-home dad, he simply doesn’t want to.

In an interview for the October issue of Details magazine, the father of 6-year-old Violet, 3-year-old Seraphina and 6-month-old Samuel shared:

“I don’t want to be a stay-at-home dad. Work is very important to me. I like to work. But I need my work to mean something to me in order for me to not be home with them.”

Of the struggle to balance both desires, Ben Affleck continued, “Anytime you think, ‘I’m wasting my time here,’ the first thought you have is, ‘I could go home and be with my kids. Now, you may go home and be with your kids and very quickly start thinking, ‘I wonder what’s on the work front?’”

“I am not very present in the rest of my life. My wife’s very patient. She does everything,” the 40 year old admitted. “If I have time, I try to spend time with the kids, even if just to be a physical presence, the bath, whatever.

“My mind’s always going, ‘How are we going to light that show tomorrow? What’s the master shot for that scene? Is there even going to be a master?’

“Just ruminating endlessly. Because for me — I wish it was discipline or being a great artist. But it’s just anxiety.”

For more with Ben Affleck check out the October issue of Details magazine.

photo: FameFlynet