R&B sensation Usher has opened up about his experience of co-parenting a child with Type 1 diabetes.
“From the moment that Type 1 diabetes was a conversation, it was a re-acclimation to life. The life that we knew changed,” the Grammy winner said in an exclusive interview with People Magazine.
He explained, “It comes with a great deal of consideration and commitment in itself because we’re all managing to make certain that my child makes the right decisions to have a happy, healthy life.”
In order to ensure that his son has a “happy and healthy life,” the 45-year-old father-of-four had to establish a successful co-parenting relationship with his ex-wife, Tameka Foster.
“The breeding ground of disaster is lack of communication,” Usher said in his interview. “You honestly have to find the means and the ability to have mutual parties. … our [kid’s] endocrinologist is a mutual ground.”
He continued, “Her experience is what it is. My experience is what it is, and if we can find somewhere to meet in the middle to make the right decisions and also to be mindful of each other or at least sensitive to the things that matter to both parties, then that’s hopefully success for everybody.”
Usher and Foster share two sons: 15-year-old Usher Raymond V and 14-year-old Naviyd Eli Raymond. The “Yeah!” singer told the news outlet that although he and his ex-wife are finding the best way to navigate their co-parenting journey, they still have to be very careful and cautious with their task because, “kids … will find a way to work you against each other.”
After years of helping his son navigate life with Type 1 diabetes, Usher is making it a priority pledge to help others. Recently, he partnered with Sanofi’s The 1 Pledge Movement, to get the word out about early detection of Type 1 diabetes.
Do you know your status? Click here and join Usher to take the pledge to get screened for Type 1 diabetes and find out.
