Merry Christmas! and I truly hope that not a creature is stirring, not even a MOM this Christmas eve, and that the next morning is the best ever.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday, and that you get some much-needed rest! (Sometimes I get tired just reading your blog. haha)

I hear ya, sister. My Christmas wish for you is that you don't beat yourself up about reaching stage 10 of exhaustion. Just because you might not have put up your lights or you'd rather sleep than do open presents with the family, Christmas is still Christmas. It's a gift to us all -- that dear child in the manger who changed life for us. And if you need a little musical inspiration (so long as you don't have anything against country music), download "Hard Candy Christmas" by Dolly Parton. The chorus might strike a chord with you (pun intended):

Me, Ill be just fine and dandy
Lord its like a hard candy christmas
Im barely getting through tomorrow
But still I wont let
Sorrow bring me way down

Merry Christmas, to you!

Merry Christmas to everyone! I look forward to hearing about how relaxing and peaceful and memorable everyone's holiday is in January!

Oh yes...forgot...one last plug for your boys for the Wii !! I'm anxious to hear whether you decided for or against it for Christmas! (Hope it's for--MUCH fun to be had during Christmas Break!)

Merry christmas from the Netherlands, to you, Kristin, and all the readers of this blog. I've been reading (and enjoying myself thoroughly) since, oh, about October, when you started the blog. Please keep posting, it's very refreshing to get these behind-the-scene views and know that superwomen do not exist (and that therefore I don't have to beat myself up for not being one ;-) ). Thank you very much for this. Enjoy a relaxed family christmas! We all look forward to reading about it in January.

I just discovered your blog and fell in love with it. Guess what, I sat up to 2 am reading your older posts and admiring your talent, rather than catching up on my much-needed SLEEP. :)

I'm a single mother of 2, and yes, I work full time in a high profile job... I thought I knew all about exhaustion, sleep deprivation, working mom guilt. Reading your blog - I learned quite a bit more. THanks, you made my day.. err night.
Cheers, Merry Christmas, sleep well. :)

Kristin, I've been reading your blog for quite some time now. The vast majority of all of your posts focuses on how tired you are, what a pain your kids are, how busy you are, etc. You are so depressing! Isn't there anything good in your life? You are the editor-in-chief of a beautiful magazine, you have three healthy children, a home... you're very blessed, yet all you do is complain. I used to read your "Letter from the Editor" and look at your picture and think, "Wow, this woman is so classy, and looks like she really is the poster face for Real Simple. Someone who I, as a college student, would ultimately like to be like." Now I just think, "Here is this lady who is ever so blessed, yet all she does is complain, complain, complain." Sorry to be so rude and blunt, but isn't that the point of a blog? To get responses?

Merry Christmas Eve to everyone...even Anon, who at this particular moment I'm just going to say: There are so many bloggers who can relate to Kristin. We don't think she's "complaining"...rather just venting like all the rest of us! When you become a mother and a successful business woman maybe then you will realize the meaning of this blog--or what it means to me and so many others! May the wrath of her faithful bloggers not come down on you this BLESSED Season! Kristin, from one of your "faithfuls", you are the epitome of classy, grateful and blessed! I wish I was a more eloquent writer to express all that! Even still...hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Kristin! I hope you ( and all Moms & Dads) get some much needed R&R over the holidays...if that is even possible. :)

Thank you for being honest about your exhaustion and not being shy about advertising it as a fact of a busy life. I'm often tired myself and find it truly unhelpful when I get those looks or comments that suggest I'm too young (29) to be so tired or that it's easy to slow down the life that made you so tired in the first place. Sometimes it just is :) Happy New Year!

Well, I made it to Stage Six this year.... I can totally relate. Thank you for letting me know it could be so much worse! Much needed sleep over the weekend and up through Christmas was the best gift ever! I am hopeful you and others were as lucky!

Golly, if you ask me, you sound like you're pregnant. That's exactly what I've felt like for the last 3 months - only 6 to go. I'm gonna go take a nap now - who cares how high the dishes are piled. Hope you are getting your much needed rest!

I love REAL SIMPLE and I get so inspired by the tips and things. But reading your blog is depressing and I feel the total opposite from when I read the magazine. Do you find that all you do is complain and most of what you have to say is negative here?

Your exhaustation is something I can relate to. My kids are now 14 and 16 and much more independent. When they were smaller, I remember dreaming of checking into a hotel for 3 days of uninterrupted sleep. Some nights I would try to be in bed, asleep by 8PM!!! It does get better. I found putting the time into organizing on the front end, made things go easier later. My older son is the most organized kid I know, so it did pay off in the long run. Happy New Year!

Sometimes our burdons are our blessings.

Boy, you hit the nail on the head here! Glad to hear it's not just me!

I agree, Anon! Kristin, you need to realize how fortunate you are... your blog image surely does not match the image of Real Simple. Motherhood is tough and tiring, but you signed up, and have been blessed with an incredible job, healthy kids, a home, and a lot of luxuries, so stop whining!

It's sad when you can't be happy about Christmas. I'm so sorry. Christmas can do that to anyone, mom's especially. So much pressure to get it all right. We had the best Christmas ever last year. We took everyone away on vacation the day after. It was their present. It was ours too. Everyone received one gift and a ticket to a warm, Carribbean destination. I really tried to cut back on everything because we just weren't going to be home for the holiday. It was fun. Nothing to pick up off the floor on Christmas Day, nothing to return because it was the wrong color, size,etc. Wish I could do it every year! Wishing you and your family a Blessed New Year!

I understand! When did the holidays totally get out of control. This year we didn't decorate and guess what, the earth didn't stop rotating and our Christmas was just as much fun! As each year passes I find that it is not about the things, it is about the experience you share with people, friends and relatives. It can really be that simple.

i think some of you are being too harsh on kristin. to me, it's a relief to see that even the editor of real simple doesn't have a perfect life. sometimes when i read other magazines for women i feel like i'm inadequate or something because all of the women inside the magazine are so completely perfect and have completely perfect lives. i'm grateful to kristin for admitting that even she needs the advice in her own magazine.

and i don't think she's being ungrateful about the blessings she has. kristin, i can feel the love you have for your family in the way you write. if you didn't care, you wouldn't bother talking about it and trying so hard.

Mom of 3---I agree! PERFECTLY written!

Love it!
Have a wonderful New Year!
praiseandcoffee*com

I think all moms experience the chaos that Kristin writes about and though we may complain, we wouldn't trade it for the world. I love the fact that Krisitn in honest about her feelings and doesn't try to sugarcoat it when she's having a rough time. I know what its like to feel exasperation and love at the same time...it's all part of being a parent!