FESTIVE PADDY AND CHRISTINE Our twins are so scared of Christmas we don’t have a tree in the house
THE flashing fairy lights, the vivid wrapping paper, the snap of crackers – all combine to make Christmas magical for youngsters.
But they can create a nightmare world for little ones with autism, as parents Paddy and Christine Mcguinness know too well.
The comedian and TV host and his model wife have low- key festivities to avoid distressing their twins Penelope and Leo, four.
Eighteen months ago they were diagnosed with autism, which affects the lives of almost three million Britons.
The couple’s two- year- old daughter Felicity is also showing signs of the condition.
Yet incredibly Christine, relaxed and beaming, insists: “This will be the best Christmas yet.”
The Real Housewives of Cheshire star said: “This year has been really poignant. I turned 30, went back to work and got that ‘me time’ back as the twins have gone to school.
“Paddy and I are ending the year so much stronger. As a family, as a marriage, as a couple, as a mum and dad, we are stronger.”
Trimmings
Next year Paddy will start his dream job, presenting BBC’S Top Gear beside Andrew Flintoff.
For now, rather than indulge in a festive excess of food and gifts, the couple’s celebrations will be geared around their children’s needs for a peaceful routine.
There is no Christmas tree, no wrapped presents and, for the children at least, a familiar meal of chicken nuggets and fries.
Christine explains: “I’m excited because the children understand this time of year a bit more. And we know about how to deal with their style of Christmas.
“You get excited and think, ‘I’ll buy that and that,’ but we can’t go over the top. Less is more with our children, we keep it quiet for them.
“We don’t have a tree in the house, but we have one in the garden. They can close the door on that when they’ve had enough.”
Asked if their new ways were hard to take, Christine admits: “You can get a bit down when you see everyone on Instagram with their trees up. Inside our house, everything is completely normal.
“But instead of feeling low we just think, ‘What’s the point in a tree that might upset them?’
“Hopefully next year we might put one up for a couple of days.”
What about a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings?
Christine laughs: “The children certainly won’t have a roast dinner, it will be chicken nuggets and fries.
“They don’t like colours – or the gravy, because it’s wet.
“Paddy and I will try to have a Christmas meal but it will probably be cold because it’s just ‘as and when’ we can. We might not even eat together.”
Father Christmas will not be visiting the household this year either. Christine says: “If we said Santa was coming down the chimney it might frighten them. They don’t want a man coming into the house in the middle of the night.
“And I won’t tell them when it’s Christmas Eve. It would knock their routine. On Christmas Day I will say, ‘ There are some new toys downstairs,’ and say what each of them have.
“That will ease ase their anxiety so they know what they’re getting before they get it.
“It’s a different way of doing Christmas but they still get really excited. If we put presents in a big pile they’d walk past anyway. The presents are unwrapped and out of their packaging or they’ll worry about what’s inside.
“The girls have some small Polly Pocket things that will be out of the packaging because they get upset waiting for it. They love the little things in life – they’d get upset with too much stuff.
“Our kids aren’t materialistic, and will never be spoiled.
“If you told them in a shop to choose whatever they want, Penelope would pick something that’s £1.50.
“They have hearts of gold. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Adapting to the children’s autism has meant Christine and Take Me Out host Paddy, 45, have learned to value what really matters to them.
Paddy admitted 18 months ago that some days felt “like you’re slowly drowning
– like you’re underwater, desperately swimming up to get oxygen but never getting there.”
But things have improved.
Christine says: “It’s made Paddy and me better people – as well as making