Earlier this month, we held an RTÉ Hourglass live podcast at The Little Museum of Dublin with RTÉ presenter Jacqui Hurley, model and mum-of-four Alli MacDonnell and WellNow Co coaches Jessie and Suzanne.
Hosted by our own Taragh Loughrey-Grant, the women discussed the various aspects of finding and maintaining a work-life balance. While Suzanne and Jessie shared take-home tips for healthy living, Alli spoke about her experience with raising four children, one of whom has autism.
In the video above, you can watch Alli talk about her life as a single mother; from her son's diagnosis with autism to how she copes with balancing her work as a model, as well as the needs of her children and what she does to keep herself sane and healthy.
Speaking about her 'struggle to juggle', the mum-of-four told the audience: "I get up every morning I put one foot in front of the other... from the moment I wake up in the morning it's go go go until I fall into bed."
"It's chaotic, it's a madhouse," says Alli.
Coping with the mania of a morning organising the children for school while getting herself ready for the catwalk, she says she needs, "coffee, lots and lots of coffee."
Speaking about her son's diagnosis with ASD, Alli tells the audience that she learned of Harry's diagnosis just three days after giving birth to her daughter, Sienna.
And she has some advice for other mothers whose children play with her autistic son. She says: "Try to teach your kids to be kind. I try to instil that in my kids and I think that I have, because my older kids have great empathy for everybody."
Adding to her current struggle is the worry that her youngest child may also be on the autistic spectrum.
In a bid to keep herself mentally and physically well, Alli tells the audience that she relies on the gym, family dinners and a monthly blowout with the girls is what keeps her going.
With four children, three dads and a career, Alli says that she "takes every day as it comes".
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