AUTISM ANGUISH
Christine McGuinness worried she’d be ‘a carer for life’ after three kids were diagnosed with autism
CHRISTINE McGuinness has admitted she worried she'd be "a carer for life" after her three kids were diagnosed with autism.
The Real Housewives of Cheshire star told Good Morning Britain today that it's only in recent years she's felt like a mum and not a helper, after her twins Leo and Penelope, aged five, and daughter Felicity, two, were diagnosed with the condition.
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Married to husband Paddy since 2011, Christine, 31, said: "The first four years I felt more like a carer than a mum.
"It's only the last few years I've felt like a regular mum.
"When they first got diagnosed, we went and looked into it, this is a lifetime condition, there's nothing that goes to fix it.
"I thought, am I going to be a full time carer forever? But it has got better through therapy, speech therapy and play therapy."
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Scientists believe autism could be heredity and Christine admitted she thinks it comes from both her and Paddy.
She said: "With the twins I didn't see it until the paediatrician told us and even when she told us I thought, she must be wrong.
"I think it is heredity, I really struggle with socialising, the food beige food, I'm very fussy, I like things plain, I think it's in a bit of both of us."
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The couple's youngest daughter was recently diagnosed with the condition and Christine says she's beginning to notice the signs.
She said: "Every child is different. Penelope didn't like to be held as a child. Felcity, because I understand it now, she's more happy. She does things like she tenses with excitement."
Speaking about when she'll tell the kids that they are autistic, she added: "I don't think they are aware, we discussed this recently and we don't know."
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