Christine McGuinness says she and Paddy are closer after becoming ‘full time carers’ for autistic children in lockdown
CHRISTINE McGuinness has revealed that she is closer to her husband Paddy McGuinness than ever after sharing chores 50/50 during lockdown.
The couple who share six-year-old twins Leo and Penelope, and three-year-old Felicity are busy being full-time carers for the trio who all have autism.
Talking about lockdown life with her husband Paddy while appearing on Loose Women, Christine said: "It’s been really strange because I thought we’d have hated this.
"If you’d have told me a few months ago, I’d have said ‘Absolutely not, you cannot put me in lockdown with him!'
"I would have thought we would have hated it, but we are getting on so well.
"I think it’s because this is the first time we are doing everything 50/50.
"The things we used to bicker about was mainly how much he would be away from home or if I wanted to work and couldn’t because he was away, it was like little things whereas now we’re both stay at home parents.
"We’re both doing the same amount of cooking, cleaning, childcare, bedtimes, so there’s nothing really to argue about. But don’t get me wrong, I want him to go back to work!”
Back in February, Christine revealed she has "no time" to be a couple with her husband after becoming full-time carers to their children.
“There’s no time for us as a couple. But we have to stay strong for our kids," she told .
During the chat Christine also revealed her "heart's breaking" for her three autistic children as they're finding lockdown "really difficult".
The glam mum appeared on Loose Women to discuss parenting in isolation and admitted she felt it had set her kids back about two years.
She explained: "This is huge this is massive it's probably the biggest change any of us are going to experience. It's affecting all three of my children and therefore us as a family.
"It's heartbreaking to see what it's doing to them but as a parent, as a mum as a carer. All I can do is be there for them, love them, help them, support them as any mum would.
"They struggle with their speech, their communication, their eye contact, their food, their sensory awareness, and all of the things they've struggled with that we've spent years and years trying to help them with, now it feels we've gone back two years
"It's really quite upsetting and difficult."
Last month Christine told how the children had "barely eaten" for more than three weeks due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their routines.
The mum-of-three, 32, told her Instagram following how she missed McDonald's being open as it she could always rely on her kids to eat it.
She explained: "The one meal all three of my children would eat @mcdonalds we miss you!
"I never thought I would wish for fast food for my children but as I expected the changes have affected them and two of my children are barely eating, it’s been like this for over 3 weeks now.
"This is not ‘fussy eaters’ this is down to struggling with change, massive change in their little lives. I know we are not alone, I’ve had so many messages about McDs! 😁 #AutismAwareness ❤️ If you know, you know..
"McDs is a ‘safe’ food, it always looks the same, it tastes the same, the texture and smell is always the same.. and it’s beige and dry! sending love if you are in the same situation right now!";
In March Christine begged supermarket stockpilers to think of her autistic children in an emotional appeal.
Taking to her Instagram page, the beauty shared a drawing of a heart balloon with "be kind" written in the string.
Christine captioned the post: "When you are emptying the shelves at your supermarket please bare in mind that you are emptying the tummy’s of our vulnerable, including my own children. ⠀
"Many children and adults with autism have a very restricted diet, the variation of food they eat is quite often extremely limited.⠀
"Some people with autism and other conditions that include sensory food aversions will go hungry from your greed. ⠀
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"The supermarkets have stated that there is enough food, you DO NOT need to empty the shelves putting our vulnerable at risk of further health conditions."
She added the hashtags: "#BeKind #Autism #AutismAwareness #Sensory #LimitedFood #ThinkOfOthers".
Christine was inundated with support from her followers, with many sharing their own difficult experiences in the shops.