Maureen Wallace

What??? I have two kids?!

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Maureen Wallace was a moderately fit reporter/editor turned PR guru engrossed in her corporate-America career when she met her soul mate. She married The Husband at 36, gave birth to her son, Charlie, at the ripe old age of 37, welcomed her daughter, Mary Emma, at 38 and tackled weight loss (miserably), depression (successfully) and many, many tubs of ice cream (thus the weight loss issue) at 39. Charlie has gleaming blonde hair, eyelashes like sea grass, a mischievous sense of humor… and Down syndrome. Mary Emma and her sparkling blue eyes joined the family exactly 17.5 months after Charlie was born. Every day, she astounds her parents with what are actually quite typical development milestones. Parenting a child with special needs (much like any child) comes with joy, frustration and many (often unfounded) fears. Maureen chronicles these, as well as her efforts at work-life balance, on her blog, OperationHaveItAll.com. Toss in two ornery cats, Maureen’s fascination with blended red wines, The Husband’s obsession with his Halloween Garage of Doom and a clash between New England-bred sarcasm and Southern charm… and embrace the chaos!

More articles from Maureen...

1. 

   Child No. 3: Boosting the Team Charlie roster

   By Maureen Wallace on May 20, 2013

   The more, the safer?
2. 

   Chasing Charlie: This marriage needs more dating

   By Maureen Wallace on May 13, 2013

   Parents of a child with special needs must find time to connect
3. 

   Chasing Charlie: Realizing I'm not alone

   By Maureen Wallace on May 6, 2013

   Commercial features a son with special needs
4. 

   New Friend Date criteria: Don't say "disability!"

   By Maureen Wallace on Apr 22, 2013

   Getting away, preferably at a nail salon with a bar
5. 

   Expert: Wedding cake predicts marriage longevity

   By Maureen Wallace on Apr 14, 2013

   Is your love a smash hit?
6. 

   Parenting a child with special needs can just stink

   By Maureen Wallace on Apr 29, 2013

   It's about the challenges other people present
7. 

   Down syndrome organizations: Unite! We need you!

   By Maureen Wallace on Apr 1, 2013

   Please help us ensure Robert Ethan Saylor did not die in vain
8. 

   Weighing the Lean In phenomenon

   By Maureen Wallace on Mar 29, 2013

   Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg speaks out about leaning in
9. 

   Where were the doers in Ethan Saylor's theater?

   By Maureen Wallace on Apr 15, 2013

   Society must look out for one another
10. 

    Chasing Charlie: The day I found my family

    By Maureen Wallace on Apr 8, 2013

    Strategic man-to-man coverage gives way to an emotional playground all its own
11. 

    The stunning reality of giving birth to twins, months apart

    By Maureen Wallace on Mar 25, 2013

    A younger sister's spunk catches up to her older brother's disability
12. 

    The dissection of inspiration porn

    By Maureen Wallace on Mar 18, 2013

    Does true kindness ever exist?
13. 

    Finding the best caregiver for my child with Down syndrome

    By Maureen Wallace on Mar 11, 2013

    How one woman changed our lives forever
14. 

    Embracing my son's Down syndrome

    By Maureen Wallace on Feb 18, 2013

    One mom's take on genetic engineering
15. 

    Sapped from illness, Charlie needs special dose of fun

    By Maureen Wallace on Mar 4, 2013

    Mommy delivers
16. 

    The startling impact illness may have on a child with special needs

    By Maureen Wallace on Feb 25, 2013

    Feeling helpless
17. 

    How your parenting choices can make my children's lives easier

    By Maureen Wallace on Feb 11, 2013

    A mother's influence
18. 

    Desperately wanting my daughter to protect my son

    By Maureen Wallace on Feb 4, 2013

    Does special needs mean less sibling rivalry?
19. 

    Imagining a future for my son with Down syndrome

    By Maureen Wallace on Jan 21, 2013

    Reality curtails imaginary solution
20. 

    Some days, you wake up with a pajama footprint on your face

    By Maureen Wallace on Jan 14, 2013

    Big decisions, pink monkey pants