Due to life circumstances and upbringing, I've felt powerless and lacked self-esteem my whole life. Until recently, when therapy has started to change how I see myself. Unfortunately, I'm left with a lifetime of ways of communicating with other people that I need to unlearn.

One area that I'm currently struggling with is relating to children and animals. It may sound strange to lump them together like that, but the issue is the same. I've been working in my church's nursery for the last few months, with toddlers, and have noticed that I have the same issue with them that I have with my dachshund: they don't listen to me, but they do to others. I don't know how to communicate in an authoritative manner. I also have a very soft voice, which compounds the problem.

Any suggestions?