Blake Sheltontakes his role as a stepparent very seriously — but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have fun with it!The “Happy Anywhere” singer, 44, is engaged toGwen Stefani, who shares three kids — sonsKingston James McGregor, 14,Zuma Nesta Rock, 12, andApollo Bowie Flynn, 7 later this month — with ex Gavin Rossdale. During an interview with KFROG’sThe Ride with Kimo & Heather, Shelton says there’s “definitely nothing easy” about being a stepfather.“I don’t know if it’s as hard or harder or not as hard as being an actual, biological parent, you know?” he says. “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,” adds Shelton. “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,” he says.Want to get the biggest stories fromPEOPLEevery weekday?Subscribe to our new podcast,PEOPLE Every Day,to get the essential celebrity, entertainment and human interest news stories Monday through Friday.A source previously told PEOPLE that Sheltonasked Stefani’s boys for approval beforeproposing to their mom.“Blake told her boys that he wanted to propose and asked their permission,” a source close to Stefani 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.“Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton.Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via GettyShelton has previouslyopened up about his role as a stepparentin Kingston, Zuma and Apollo’s lives, telling theTodayshow in July about the balance of being both a friend and a role model to them.“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. There’s a lot of responsibility that comes with that,” Shelton said at the time.Stefani shared a collection of images to her Instagram feed of Sheltonspending time with all three boysover the years to commemorate Father’s Day last year. “Thank u for helping me raise these boys!! #weloveyou! G❤️K❤️Z❤️A gx,” Stefani wrote in the post’s caption at the time.

Blake Sheltontakes his role as a stepparent very seriously — but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have fun with it!

The “Happy Anywhere” singer, 44, is engaged toGwen Stefani, who shares three kids — sonsKingston James McGregor, 14,Zuma Nesta Rock, 12, andApollo Bowie Flynn, 7 later this month — with ex Gavin Rossdale. During an interview with KFROG’sThe Ride with Kimo & Heather, Shelton says there’s “definitely nothing easy” about being a stepfather.

“I don’t know if it’s as hard or harder or not as hard as being an actual, biological parent, you know?” he says. “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,” adds Shelton. “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,” he says.

Want to get the biggest stories fromPEOPLEevery weekday?Subscribe to our new podcast,PEOPLE Every Day,to get the essential celebrity, entertainment and human interest news stories Monday through Friday.

A source previously told PEOPLE that Sheltonasked Stefani’s boys for approval beforeproposing to their mom.

“Blake told her boys that he wanted to propose and asked their permission,” a source close to Stefani 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.”

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton.Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton

Shelton has previouslyopened up about his role as a stepparentin Kingston, Zuma and Apollo’s lives, telling theTodayshow in July about the balance of being both a friend and a role model to them.

“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. There’s a lot of responsibility that comes with that,” Shelton said at the time.

Stefani shared a collection of images to her Instagram feed of Sheltonspending time with all three boysover the years to commemorate Father’s Day last year. “Thank u for helping me raise these boys!! #weloveyou! G❤️K❤️Z❤️A gx,” Stefani wrote in the post’s caption at the time.

source: people.com