“I don’t know if it’s as hard or harder or not as hard as being an actual, biological parent, you know?” he said. “I have a stepfather in my life who’s one of my heroes. I love my stepfather and I look up to him and he’s like a father to me, so I have a good inspiration in my life for how to do this and the kind of stepdad I want to be. And I take it very serious.”

“But I also have a blast with it, I’m not gonna lie,” Shelton added. “I don’t take it so serious that I’m not enjoying this time because I really am, especially now that we’re five years into this thing. I can’t imagine my life without these kids now.”

A source close to Stefani previously revealed to People Magazine that Shelton had even asked the boys for permission before proposing to their mother.

“Blake told her boys that he wanted to propose and asked their permission,” the insider said. “Her family very much approves of him. He’s an amazing partner and a great extra dad to the boys. Gwen is ecstatic. The proposal was a surprise.”

After spending months in quarantine with Stefani and her sons, Shelton discussed what being a stepparent is like back in July.

“That’s a scary moment for me because it’s one thing for me to be with the kids all the time and be their buddy, but you do have to consider after a while that they start to listen to things that you say,” he admitted. “There’s a lot of responsibility that comes with that.”