Spoke Too Soon?

Well, we all knew the bragging couldn't last THAT long...today was a very difficult day. For many reasons. I feel like doctors and parents put way too many normal kids on ADHD medicine, but there is one kid in my class who severely, severely needs it. I was told that he is on the medication but he is still one of the hardest kids in class to deal with. Today was a whole other story...and it's because he didn't take his medicine! I have never heard a child scream so loud in my life and throw such tantrums just because someone asked him to sit criss-cross applesauce (cute little phrase, right?). He was really difficult. To make matters worse, he has an aide that is with him all day and she and I have very different opinions on how we should handle hiim. She is very negative and is always saying "Don't do this" or "You know better than that" or "Do this right now" and he doesn't really respond very well to it. It's not my style to do that so I have been trying to handle it a little more positively by telling him how well he does when he does do well, and by asking him quietly to do something. He is responding really well (besides today, of course, because apparently that medicine helps him a lot!) but his aide keeps telling me that it is because I'm new and also that I am letting him get away with too much and that is why he had such a bad day today. In my opinion, I am just showing the kid some much needed love and that is why he is responding well and the reason he had such a horrible day is because he literally couldn't control himself. He doesn't have the ability to do so when he isn't on his medicine. And, that's my true opinion. Like I said before, I think that way too many kids are on ADHD medicine for no reason, probably 8 or 9 times out of 10, but this kid, wow, I don't know what I would do if he didn't have his medicine every day!

Anyway, that really only touches the surface of the day, and I'm only talking about Kindergarten. I am also trying to juggle my 4th grade tasks that I am responsible for. It's a hard balance to find especially because I'd rather focus on 4th grade, but my priority needs to be Kindergarten. Also, I have no idea what I'm doing and I feel like some people expect me to and they get frustrated when I don't do it right! Anyway, sorry to vent, but, I'm not going to lie, I feel much better!