CHRISTINE and Paddy McGuinness have opened up their son Leo’s severe nut allergy that leaves then frightened to eat out.
The model, 33 and the TV presenter, 48, revealed that they need to take two EpiPens everywhere they go in case of an emergency.
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The couple, who are parents to eight-year-old twins Leo and Penelope, who have autism, and Felicity, six, admitted they are “quite scared” to eat at restaurants because of this.
The Top Gear star said: “Our little boy has a nut allergy, with nut allergies – every child is different.
“Some children can’t even go near a nut, and they can’t even use nut oils because of the fumes in the air and everything else, and they get a really bad reaction, whereas other children might have a nut allergy, but can deal with things.”
Christine went onto detail the highs and lows of parenthood, including feeling “mum guilt”.
Christine explained: “Our son’s nut allergy means we’ve to take two EpiPens everywhere we go, and we’re quite scared about eating out because of that
“We’re talking about when our children should start being a bit more independent – and just getting themselves a glass of water, but we don’t know what the right age is.
“We’re even discussing if our children will be ok to go to the local zoo with the school for a day out, and we’ve both got those little worries.
“I’ve been guilty of giving my children their iPads just so I can have a little break’
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“Routine is so important to our kids, the pandemic really affected our children’s routine, and we allowed ours to go on their computers more than normal and trying to claw that back has been really difficult.”
The Take Me Out host said he also experienced moments of “guilt” when he tries to ways to keep the kids occupied.
“I’ve been guilty in the past with my children – just have it [their iPads] if you want to look at it, just look at it to give me a break,” he explained.
Paddy added: “The things we did back then – it’s crazy.
“Now talking about it can you believe everyone was so panicked, but yes you can. Kids love a cuddle and they like knowing the security of having their parents there.”
Paddy recently revealed the “heartbreak” over his autistic children being snubbed and said it was “upsetting” that their young kids are judged by their peers.
“It’s upsetting as a parent when your child goes up to another child in that lovely way and introduces themselves, which is the most normal, nice thing to do ever,” the Top Gear host said on Table Talk podcast.
“But most kids will look at that as: ‘What the hell is going on here?’ They don’t understand it. As a parent, it’s heartbreaking.”
The TV host – who have been married to Christine since 2011- said that this has happened a “million times” but praised his kids and said that he is “glad his kids still do it”.
Paddy and Christine, 32, helped to provide awareness of autism with their documentary Paddy And Christine McGuinness: Our Family And Autism last year.
The TV star broke down in tears as he described how his autistic kids had “won the lottery” by getting a mum like Christine, who was diagnosed with autism herself, but believes his children will never be able to leave home.
Paddy said: “Our kids dropped the lottery with Christine because they couldn’t wish for a better mum.
“I think my kids will probably be at home with me for ever. It’s great now. I’m here and Christine’s here.
“But eventually there comes a point when we’re not here any more and I worry about people taking advantage of them. We’re just putting everything in place for them and trying to get them as independent as they can be.”
Paddy also reveals how the weight of it all made him spiral into a depression that saw him end up in therapy.
He said: “It chipped away at me, with all of the things you have to do, things you have to deal with as a parent of children with autism. It dawned on me that, that’s it, that’s it for ever. There’s no ‘they’ll get better as the years go on’.
“In that whole haze of clinical depression, if you’d have given me the chance to take autism away from my children, I would have said ‘yeah’ but autism is part of who they are, so why would I want to take away a part of my children which I love?
“I wasn’t unhappy for me. I was just stressed with the whole thing but I worked my backside off because I thought the only thing I can do for these kids is give them a life where they’re as comfortable as possible.
“What I should have been thinking is I need to give them as much love as I can. It’s more about having time with them. I realise that now.”
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