When Usher and ex-wife Tameka Foster found out that their eldest child Usher Raymond V, 15, had Type 1 diabetes years ago, it changed everything.
當(dāng)亞瑟和前妻塔梅卡·福斯特幾年前發(fā)現(xiàn)他們15歲的大孩子亞瑟·雷蒙德五世患有1型糖尿病時(shí),一切都改變了。
“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, 45, says of the chronic condition in which the pancreas fails to produce sufficient insulin for the body, often requiring insulin injections to help maintain normal blood sugar levels.
“從1型糖尿病成為話(huà)題的那一刻起,這就是對(duì)生活的重新適應(yīng)。我們所熟悉的生活改變了,”這位45歲的格萊美獎(jiǎng)得主談到胰腺無(wú)法為身體產(chǎn)生足夠胰島素的慢性疾病時(shí)說(shuō),通常需要注射胰島素來(lái)維持正常的血糖水平。
“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," he explained.
他解釋說(shuō):“這本身就需要大量的考慮和承諾,因?yàn)槲覀兌荚谂Υ_保我的孩子做出正確的決定,過(guò)上幸福、健康的生活。”
Staying on top of the disease takes teamwork between Raymond and Foster, who divorced in 2009, and the star admits that it’s something they work hard at.
雷蒙德和福斯特在2009年離婚,他們需要合作才能戰(zhàn)勝這種疾病,這位明星承認(rèn)這是他們努力工作的結(jié)果。
“The breeding ground of disaster is lack of communication,” he says. “You honestly have to find the means and the ability to have mutual parties.” For him and Foster, “our [kid's] endocrinologist is a mutual ground.”
“災(zāi)難的滋生地是缺乏溝通,”他說(shuō)。“老實(shí)說(shuō),你必須找到建立共同政黨的方法和能力。”對(duì)他和福斯特來(lái)說(shuō),“我們孩子的內(nèi)分泌專(zhuān)家是一個(gè)共同的基礎(chǔ)。”
Still, says the star, “It’s been a task. It is very complicated because kids, by the way, will find a way to work you against each other. You have to be mindful of what you say and that they’re always listening and greater than that. They’re always watching.”
不過(guò),這位明星說(shuō):“這是一項(xiàng)艱巨的任務(wù)。這是非常復(fù)雜的,因?yàn)楹⒆觽?,順便說(shuō)一下,會(huì)找到一種方法讓你們彼此對(duì)抗。你必須注意你說(shuō)的話(huà),他們總是在聽(tīng),而且不止于此。他們總是在看。”
What has worked best for him and Foster, with whom he also shares son Naviyd Eli Raymond, 14, is trying to have understanding. “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.”
他和福斯特還有一個(gè)兒子,14歲的納維德·伊萊·雷蒙德。對(duì)他們來(lái)說(shuō),最有效的方法是試著相互理解。“她的經(jīng)歷就是這樣。我的經(jīng)驗(yàn)就是這樣,如果我們能找到一個(gè)折中的地方,做出正確的決定,同時(shí)也要關(guān)心彼此,或者至少對(duì)雙方都重要的事情保持敏感,那么對(duì)每個(gè)人來(lái)說(shuō)都有希望成功。”
Usher recently partnered with Sanofi's One Pledge Challenge, to get the word out about early detection of Type 1 diabetes, something he wished he was aware of years ago. “If I had honestly prepared myself better, I would’ve appreciated it,” he says.
亞瑟最近與賽諾菲的One Pledge Challenge合作,宣傳1型糖尿病的早期檢測(cè),這是他多年前就希望知道的事情。他說(shuō):“如果我真的準(zhǔn)備得更好,我會(huì)很感激的。”
After years of helping his child navigate life with the disorder, he’s made finding normalcy a priority: “It doesn’t have to be a life vacant of fun or experience and the excitement of just being a careless young person.”
多年來(lái),他一直在幫助他的孩子度過(guò)這種障礙的生活,現(xiàn)在他把找回正常生活作為首要任務(wù):“這并不一定是一種沒(méi)有樂(lè)趣或經(jīng)驗(yàn)的生活,也不一定是一個(gè)無(wú)憂(yōu)無(wú)慮的年輕人的興奮。”
And even though Usher is gearing up to headline the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show in February, he still faces the same challenge as any parent of teens does.
盡管亞瑟正準(zhǔn)備在2月份的2024年超級(jí)碗中場(chǎng)秀上擔(dān)任主角,但他仍然面臨著與任何青少年父母一樣的挑戰(zhàn)。
“Am I cool to them?” the star says with a laugh. “I think I’m really cool to my 2 and 3 year old [Sire Castrello and Sovereign Bo, with longtime girlfriend Jenn Goicoechea]. They don’t know any better. But my almost 16 and almost 15 year olds, they may think I’m not. They’ll say ‘You need to update this’ or ‘You could be doing this.' I’m trying to make certain I stay cool to them.”
“我對(duì)他們酷嗎?”這位明星笑著說(shuō)。“我覺(jué)得我對(duì)我2歲和3歲的孩子(Sire Castrello和Sovereign Bo,還有交往多年的女友Jenn Goicoechea)真的很酷。他們什么都不懂。但我16歲和15歲的孩子們,他們可能認(rèn)為我不是。他們會(huì)說(shuō)'你需要更新這個(gè)'或者'你可以這樣做'我想確保自己對(duì)他們保持冷靜。”
Most importantly, adds Usher, “Dad life is everything. I live for my children. I’ve seen every first step and I’ve missed a few firsts as a result of my commitment to entertainment. But it’s a sacrifice. I just hope that they see me as the dad that I didn’t have. I’m a father that’s 100 percent about my family.”
最重要的是,亞瑟補(bǔ)充道:“爸爸的生活就是一切。我為我的孩子而活。我見(jiàn)證了每一個(gè)人的第一步,也因?yàn)槌撩杂趭蕵?lè)而錯(cuò)過(guò)了一些第一步。但這是一種犧牲。我只希望他們能把我當(dāng)成我失去的父親。我是一個(gè)百分百關(guān)心家庭的父親。”