Gwen Stefani is sharing what it is like to live with dyslexia.
In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music, the No Doubt singer-songwriter opened up about how she battled dyslexia at school and only discovered later on she had the learning disorder after her children, Kingston, 14, Zuma, 12, and Apollo, 6 — whom she shares with ex-husband Gavin Rossdale — were diagnosed.
"One thing that I've discovered through having kids is that I have dyslexia — everyone has things that happen and mine was that," she said, according to People. "And I feel like a lot of the problems that I have had or even decisions that I've made for myself stem from that, because now the children — obviously, it's all genetic — they have some of those issues."
Stefani told Lowe that there is much greater awareness around dyslexia now, but things were very different when she was growing up. Stefani admitted to failing at school and said she struggled to fit in.
"I was a good girl. I didn't do any bad stuff. It was just really hard for me to function in that square box of school that everybody was supposed to be understanding," she explained. "And my brain didn't work like that; it still doesn't. But it works in different ways that are probably a gift that other people can't do."
Stefani has previously spoken about dyslexia and admitted to not being able to spell properly, per Dyslexic Advantage. Despite the setbacks, the pop star has managed to carve a successful career in music and fashion. She is now exploring her creative passions and enjoying time with her fiance Blake Shelton, who popped the question in October, and three kids.
The family has been quarantining together, and although it has not always been easy, Stefani told Lowe it had taught her to appreciate what she has.
"I know that I'm going to look back at it and I already look back at it like it was an amazing thing," she said. "It's just trying to find the beauty in the moment and the good things that are coming out of it."
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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