Christine McGuinness reveals her three children will eat chicken nuggets on Christmas Day
CHRISTINE McGuinness today revealed that her three children will eat chicken nuggets on Christmas Day.
It comes after it was revealed she will spend the big day with estranged husband Paddy McGuinness.
The former couple announced their split in the summer after 15 years together, yet remain friends.
They share three children - twins Leo and Penelope, eight, and Felicity, five, who all have autism - and the parents are keen to maintain a sense of normality.
So Christine will make the day as routine as possible for her kids, which includes what food they eat.
A reluctance to try new foods is a common trait in autistic children, so this Christmas she’ll be sticking to meals they’re accustomed to rather than encouraging them to enjoy a traditional turkey roast.
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Speaking to this week's , she said: “I don’t think they should have to fit in with tradition or what everybody else has. I think your Christmas dinner should be whatever you’d like to eat and I want them to enjoy it,” she said.
“If they want chicken nuggets and chips, then that’s what I’m going to give them.”
Meanwhile Christine also talked about Paddy spending the day with the family for Christmas, despite their split.
She said: "I would never let the children be aware of anything other than us being happy and alright, because they’re so young and innocent.”
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Confirming the children were unaware of their parents' relationship status, she continued: “No, not at all, they’re so young. I’m trying to just stick to their normal routine – take them to school in the morning, pick them up, try to work while they’re at school and take them to afterschool clubs and just try to stick to normal life as much as possible."
And opening up on the new dynamic with Paddy at home, she said: “We’re on good terms. We’re trying to both be there for the children and we want to co-parent as well as we can. We want to make sure we’re both around the children whenever we can be."
The pair each posted identical separation statements on Instagram in the summer where they opened up about the "difficult decision".
They wrote: "We hadn't planned on sharing this publicly until we were ready but after the lack of privacy surrounding our personal life, we feel left with no other option but to clarify.
"A while ago we took the difficult decision to separate but our main focus as always is to continue loving and supporting our children.
"This was not an easy decision to make but we are moving forward as the best parents we can be for our three beautiful children.
"We'll always be a loving family, we still have a great relationship and still live happily in our family home together."
They added: "We hope this now draws a line under anymore unwanted intrusion into our private life.
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"Although we work in the public eye we ask kindly if you could respect our wishes for privacy on this matter."
Paddy and Christine concluded: "We'll be making no further comments" before adding their names with a kiss.