PADDY AND CHRISTINE GRATEFUL FOR SUPPORT
PADDY and Christine McGuinness say speaking out about their kids’ autism has helped them cope.
The couple’s family life was thrown upside down when fouryear-old twins Penelope and Leo were diagnosed with the disorder.
Christine has admitted she felt “a huge sense of loss” while Paddy felt like he was “drowning”.
The couple, who also have a oneyear-old daughter, Felicity, first told of their experiences earlier this year.
Christine said: “The reaction we’ve had has been lovely. It’s nice to know it’s not only us out there dealing with it.
“I’ve had loads of people asking for advice and swapping tips. As a whole it’s been nothing but positive since we talked about it.”
Paddy said: “Christine’s had a lot of people get in touch. It’s been fantastic. People have been really supportive.
“Anything like that has helped. To know you’ve got support and there are other people in the same boat and you’re not on your own really helps.”
Christine first told of Leo and Penelope’s condition on This Morning and Loose Women in the summer. She hoped talking about it in front of millions of viewers would raise awareness of autism.
Opening up about family life, she told how the twins struggle to socialise or make eye contact and are scared by change.
Christine said she now finds it easier when out in public with her children.
Speaking at the Pride of Britain Awards, she said: “The behaviour can just be seen as part of someone’s personality – people might just think someone is sensitive to noise or doesn’t like busy places.
“They might just think that’s their personality. But with our children it’s an actual condition.
“It’s made things easier for me talking about it because now I’m able to take the children out and say it out loud. I can say, ‘Excuse me, they’ve got autism’. It just helps people to know they’re not misbehaving.”
Paddy added: “It has been fantastic since Christine went on This Morning and Loose Women. Not only does it raise awareness but it has also helped us as parents. It has been great.”
Penelope and Leo are now at school, which Paddy said “they love”.
Christine added: “They have got a condition but they’re doing amazingly well. They’re our little heroes and they surprise us every day. They’re getting better every day and they’re handling different situations all the time.”
Paddy and Christine are in talks to work with the National Autistic Society on projects in 2018.