When my kids won’t pick up after themselves, after I’ve repeated myself nicely, it feels infuriating. And in that moment, it's easy to want to throw gentle parenting out the window when I feel like I've tried EVERYTHING.
In this episode, I talk about four feelings that come up for parents when our kids push back, delay, or simply ignore taking care of their things. I focus on the parents feelings of powerlessness, dismissal, hurt, and insecurity.
I share where these feelings come from in my own upbringing, how they showed up in my parenting before I understood them, and why our children’s resistance affects us so much — even when the tasks themselves feel small.
I invite you to check in with yourself and see which one feels relatable in your household. And know that if you choose to comment, I read them all and will hold that space for you with care.
If you find that you are stuck in the cycle of power struggle with your children when it comes to keeping your home in a manageable state, I hope you’ll check out the Dooley Noted Content Library for more video lessons.
Sometimes, it’s easier to break the cycle with someone who’s been there to guide and support you along the way. If hearing that feels like relief, book a free 30-minute consultation so we can talk through what it’s like to continue moving towards cooperation through connection while getting your home in order.
This is the work I get to do with families.
Not fixing behavior. Just making space for what’s underneath it, together.
When we do that, cooperation starts to look different. It stops being something we ask for, and starts being something that grows.
That’s the heart of the Dooley Method.
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Trusting your child to decide what stays and what goes isn’t risky.
Not trusting them is what keeps them from ever learning how.
If you've been organizing and reorganizing but the results don't last, or you've been carrying it alone, talking it through with someone who understands the cycle — and how to shift it — might be the next right step.
