Jennie Garth and Peter Facinelli have reunited to openly discuss their marriage and co-parenting journey, 12 years after their divorce. The former couple shared their reflections on the latest episode of Garth's "I Choose Me" podcast.
During the podcast, Facinelli described the decision to separate as very difficult. He recalled, "There was part of me that was, like, 'Do I stay in this?' I also felt gutted to break up the family apart... It wasn't an easy decision by any means." He noted that although the decision was hard, it ultimately allowed him to understand himself better. "Looking back, it was the right decision," he said, emphasizing that he did not want to let his life pass by without striving for improvement.
Garth echoed this sentiment, stating that their separation had strengthened both them and their three daughters, Luca, 26, Lola, 21, and Fiona, 17. "It's almost like, on one hand, they missed out on that idyllic family... But on the other hand, they gained so much more emotional depth and strength," she explained.
The pair also addressed the challenges of co-parenting, especially in the initial stages of their divorce. Facinelli remarked, "When you break up with someone and then you still have this immense, tremendous responsibility with them, you have to put everything aside to work together." Garth admitted that her efforts weren't always perfect, but both agreed they ultimately presented a unified front for their children. "If you and I could work together, and they saw that there was still love there... they could walk away with the story of mom and dad are still in our corners," Facinelli added.
Garth and Facinelli married in 2001 after meeting on the set of "Unfinished Affair" in 1996. They separated in early 2012, with Facinelli filing for divorce in March of that year. Reflecting on the separation, Garth told PEOPLE, “You get the rug pulled from under you. I have no landscape of what my future will look like, where before I had something that I can count on.”
In 2017, Facinelli offered further insight into their post-divorce relationship, saying, “People come into your life for a reason and relationships can change. Just because we aren’t living together doesn’t mean you can’t love each other. We had to learn to move forward with love and respect.”
Facinelli noted that they co-parent well, as their happiness contributes to their children's happiness. He mentioned that they spend time together, including Garth’s husband Dave Abrams and his fiancée Lily Anne Harrison, with whom he has a 1-year-old son. “I get the kids one week on and one week off so we share the kids 50/50, but if they have games and events, we are both there. We talk all the time about co-parenting and the kids. I really like her husband and I think he’s a great guy,” Facinelli said.
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