How this came about

Growing up in a household uncomfortable with showing emotions, Ann's tears were often met with anger. She learned to hide her feelings and believed showing emotion made her unlovable. She remembers being about five years old, sobbing like clockwork every night to a somber TV theme song after her sister fell asleep.

As an adult, Ann still felt ashamed to show sadness, anger, or fear, and crying in the dark or alone in the bathroom became her only acceptable outlets. Her children’s cries brought both pain and jealousy because she couldn’t allow herself to be as vulnerable.

It wasn’t until her therapist helped her understand the purpose of tears—that they’re our bodies’ natural way to restore calm, that eventually led to the idea of the UglyCry.Club—to hold space for what’s heavy, where crying isn’t suppressed or shamed.

It’s Ann’s mission to gently remind those looking to relieve some of the pressure that you’re not alone. Your emotions are safe to be felt, and you are free to cry, no matter how messy. At UglyCry.Club, your tenderness is what’s beautiful. And you deserve a moment to let it out.

About the Founder

Ann Dooley, a self-described highly sensitive empath and mom of two, is the owner of Simple Joy With Ann, a home organizing service specializing in working with families. As the creator of the Dooley Method™, which bridges connection-based parenting with purposeful organizing, Ann guides parents and children in working together to bring calm and order to their homes while strengthening their bond.