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Shakira explains her approach to parenthood after splitting from ex-husband Gerard Pique

September 21, 2022

Shakira opens up about parenthood during her divorce. (Photo: Getty Images)

Shakira talks about her recent split from partner Gerard Pique and how music has been vital for her to get through “her darkest hour” and show the best she can for her children.

The 45-year-old Colombian singer spoke with She on how she got through her difficult breakup, after it was announced in June that she and the Spanish soccer player had decided to call it quits, and the resulting custody battle of the couple’s two sons , Milan, 9, and Sasha, 7. Creating new music has been a big part of Shakira’s healing journey, it’s her boys’ livelihood that she remains most focused on.

Shakira appears on the October 2022 digital cover for Elle. (Photo: Jaume de Laiguana) — Shakira appears on the October 2022 digital cover for *She*. (Photo: Jaume de Laiguana)

“I think music is a life raft. There were days when I had to pick up the pieces of me off the floor. And the only way to do that, to actually do that, was through the music. You know, to really, like, get myself back on my feet and see myself in the mirror and know that I’m a mother and my kids depend on me,” she said, noting that her career often felt like a distraction from prior motherhood. “Sometimes I dreaded my job so much in the past because I just wanted to be there for my kids. I mean, I just wanted to cuddle my kids a little longer in bed. And then I had to, like, get up and shoot a video and fulfill my obligations. But now I’m so grateful for my job, the opportunity it gives us to get back together and realize who we are and why we’re here on this planet – what our purpose is , our mission.”

Focusing on her craft was a nice distraction from the negative press surrounding the end of her relationship. However, protecting her children from chaos is an additional challenge.

“It’s been difficult not only for me, but also for my children. Incredibly difficult. I have paparazzi camping outside my house 24/7. And there’s no ‘place where I can hide from them with my children, except for my own house. You know, we can’t walk in the park like an ordinary family or go for an ice cream or do any activity without that the paparazzi follow us, so it’s difficult,” Shakira explained. “And I tried to hide the situation in front of my kids. I try to do that and protect them, because that’s my number one mission in life. But then they hear things at school from their friends or they encounter nasty and unpleasant news online, and it affects them, you know?”

The local press in Spain, where she lives in Barcelona, has even become “invasive for my children”, she said, as photographers interrupted their daily lives.

“They don’t deserve to feel watched or watched every second, photographed after school or followed by paparazzi. They deserve a normal life. It’s just a total circus, and everyone speculates on all those aspects of our, and more importantly, our children’s lives, and a lot of things aren’t even true,” she said. “No matter how things ended or how Gerard and I feel about each other as ex-partners, he is the father of my children. We have a job to do for these two amazing boys. , and I’m confident that we’ll figure out what’s best for their future, their own dreams in life, and what’s a fair solution for everyone involved. And I hope and would appreciate if we had the space for the do it in private.

She continued: “It’s really upsetting for two kids trying to deal with their parents’ separation. And sometimes I just feel like it’s all just a bad dream and I’m going to wake up at some point. But no, it’s real.”

While managing her own mental well-being through this has been a challenge, it’s the priority she places on her children that ultimately pushes Shakira through.

“I manage, I guess, by remembering that I have to become an example for my children, that I have to be what they want, what I want them to become,” she said. “And I want to be there, too, for all the people who have shown me love and support. That’s my greatest strength. That’s my strongest driver right now.”

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