Jennifer Garner’s own mother isn’t afraid to point out the irony in the star, who spends more time being mom than practicing her craft, being given an acting award!

The mother of three with husband Ben Affleck told the funny story of a phone conversation with her mother while accepting the Female Star of the Year award at CinemaCon on Thursday in Las Vegas.

“I told my mom the other day I was getting this award . . . and I was excited and feeling proud and thought she was going to be proud, and then there was this pause on the other end of the line,” Jennifer Garner explained during her acceptance speech.

“She said, ‘Jennifer, do these people know you haven’t worked in the last year?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I feel they probably know what I’ve been up to. I haven’t stepped foot on a set. You are correct, mom.’”

The 40-year-old, seen here at her first public appearance since welcoming son Samuel on Feb. 27, continued:

“She said, ‘Can they take this back? Because every time I talk to you, you are breastfeeding, you are running car pool, you are on the library committee — you are not acting!’ I said it’s not all about the now, it’s things you’ve done in the past or in the future, and she was like, ‘Honey, you have a weird job.’”

Giving credit to Ben Affleck, “for taking over drop-offs and pick-ups and bedtime so I could make it,” the actress, also mother of 6-year-old Violet and 3-year-old Seraphina, added, “And thanks for making me feel like maybe someday I will get to relax in a hair and makeup chair again and leave the maniacs at home with you!”

photo: Fameflynet