The remedy to maintaining sanity is reframing, or seeing those annoying moments in a new light. Often, by imagining a frustrating scene as one in a comedy act, it turns the moment into laughter-provoking memories for years to come.
Here's an example, a true story from the days when my kids were toddlers.
One morning when I was particularly tired, I sat down on my daughter's bed, tucked each child next to me and began reading a stack of our favorite children's books. In th cozy, quiet warmth, I fell asleep without realizing it. I awoke with a start and found that I was alone on the bed. After reassuring myself that the house was toddler-proof and that no one could get hurt, I hurried toward a portion of the house connecting the family room, eating and kitchen.
As I stepped into the hallway, I was greeted by a sea of Cheerios. The contents of an economy-sized cereal box were strewn across every inch of the hall, the family room and the eating area. My children were sitting joyfuly in th midst of the mess, picking Cheerios off the floor and eating them, one by one.
My initial reaction was nearly panic. Besides feeling rather annoyed that there was yet one more mess to clean up and my kids were eating off the floor, I was upset because a worker (whom I had assured that I kept a clean house) was due to arrive momentarily to find out why ants were coming into the family room.
As calmly as possible, I asked my children what had happened. They happily explaind that first they were Hansel and Gretel, who had left a trail of bread crumbs. Then they had become birds and they were eating the crumbs. Their delight over the situation was apparent.
It was clear to me that they had grasped and understood a story we had read together. It was then that I realized that it was my actions - not theirs - that would continue to make this a positive situation for them and a better one for me, or create an unhappy ending for all of us.
Rather than seeing this as another mess to clean up, I saw it as a moment for humor. I grabbed my camera, photographed the sea of Cheerios and mailed the picture with the tale of her grandchildren's antics to my mother. More than a decade later, this story has become part of our family's history, a legend of the funny things the kids did when they were little. It has been repeated in our children's English compositions and a photo remains in the family album.
This situation and the story helped us define who we are in relationship to each other. We are not housekeeper and mess-makers, nor rivals on opposites sides. We are mother and children; we are companions who can laugh.
For more discussion about how reframing - or seeing through different eyes - can help moms successfully navigate parenthood, please join me for a three-part program called "Seven Gems: Creating the Life of Your Dreams" at Momference. This brand new virtual conference features 50 experts, 6 days and one life-changing event that will help moms connect with other moms and achieve the lives they want without leaving the office or the house. For more information or to register, click here: http://www.profcs.com/app/?af=647599.
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A foreigner wanted to quickly reach a destination in the center of Africa. He paid several villagers to serve as his guide. For three days, they pushed through dense jungle, dangerous rivers and then arid desert. The foreigner urged the group to press ever onward, taking few breaks and sleeping a bit too little. After the third day, the villagers sat down. The foreigner cajoled them to hurry on, but they refused. He implored them to continue, but they did not budget. He even bribed them and then threatened them, to no avail.
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Carol Metzker and Dr. Loretta Long (aka Susan from 
" visit: www.amazon.com/gp/product/0940975831?ie=UTF8&tag=aide-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0940975831
Leslie Yerkes, bestselling author of numerous books, autobraphs Fun Works, with dozens of stories about the ways successful companies are making sure that employees can love what they do. 
Roscoe Orman (aka Gordon from Sesame Street), looks forward to the fall 2007 release of his children's book Ricky and Mobo, a story based on his childhood events, as he stands next to Dr. Loretta Long.
Expo attendees got a preview of Peter Yarrow's new book on his song - loved by many generations - Puff the Magic Dragon (to be released this summer, but available now on preorder), a story about Jackie Paper and Puff. By far, one of the most beautifully illustrated books I've seen lately. And who can resist the recording of the song included with it? 
To read an excerpt from They Just Don't Get It, click here. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/157675328X?ie=UTF8&tag=aide-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=157675328X"%3EThey%20Just%20Don't%20Get%20It!%20Changing%20Resistance%20into%20Understanding.]]>
Seth: There are so many these days, what with the release of the book, Wake Me Up When the Data Is over (http://www.sayitwithastory.com/WakeMeUp/index.html ) and the success of Steve Denning's book (www.stevedenning.com). One of my favorites was my first NASA Masters' Class, which Denise invited me to kick off in 2002. There I saw the senior managers of NASA explicitly using storytelling to share their knowledge of how to manage their largest projects that spanned decades, presidential administrations, budget swings, and scientific revolutions. Denise was one of the organizers of that event, which was but one of her many story-based initiatives with NASA's Academy of Program and Project Leadership. The event was such a marvel to behold. I came to do my presentation which was 60 minutes at the beginning. I was so entranced I stayed the entire two days. Their storytelling mastery was made possible by the careful support and infrastructure Denise put together. 
Denise: One of my favorite stories about an organization using stories was from my work with the NASA Women's Advisory Council. The goal was to use story to bridge the generation gap between women scientists and engineers. The younger group tended to bond and the more mature group tended to have worked together for many years. There was a period of time where NASA was not hiring at all that created the 'camels hump'. I first coached three women that agreed to be storytellers. Very difficult for them as that was not their style. Scientists are not usually storytellers. After a little coaching their dormant storyteller emerged. I designed a workshop around their telling of their stories to get to the learning and the building of relationships. This was a very simple inexpensive project from the point of view of the client but with lots of value and benefits. For instance, one women was struggling with trying to decide if she should have children with her enormous workload and one of the more mature women met her through this program and was able to share her experiences and provide a little mentoring! 
. It was designed based on my experience in multi-cultural organizations and working under the brilliant leadership of Paul Costello at the Center for Narrative Studies (
Click here for Noah's new book: 
Today, 
