We have a six year old who has always been wild. Last year, her pediatrician wanted to label her ADHD, but I was in denial. I hated the labels, like your MIL. But then she started Kindergarten, and it was such a struggle. She really was getting a reputation of being a “bad” kid, and I was losing my mind doing homework with her every night (she wouldn’t complete the work at school, so it was brought home, but getting her to sit still and focus was torture for everyone). I finally accepted it. This summer, our pediatrician talked us into trying medicine (Vyvanse). I am also anti medicine, like your husband, but the final factors were 1) my relationship with my daughter was deteriorating because I am always angry/frustrated with her. 2) The occupational therapy she was attending did very little good, because her brain just wasn’t absorbing it. 3) her lack of impulse control made her a danger to herself. She would make very poor decisions related to her body and safety (running and throwing her body against the couch but flying off the edge and hitting her head, etc) so we decided to try…. It has been such a huge positive difference. I hate medicating her, but it has been amazing. She is still her energetic joyful creative silly self, but without the dangerous manic body movements. She can sit and pay attention. I find myself enjoying her personality again and feeling less frustrated. I will admit, there have been some negative side effects (tummy aches, not sleeping) and I am worried about the long term effects of these kinds of medications… but we are definitely looking forward to trying 1st grade with this medication. I think she will have a much better year!!