January is finished

I got 6 days in this month, out of a possible 10. Brilliant. But for reals, this is really hard. It's not like I haven't been in a classroom before or worked with students before, but it's just so different. It's a lot less "Hey guys, a random stranger will be chilling in here for like 2 weeks" and more like "Your personal punching bag will be chilling in here and desperately seeking to teach you something that you don't want to learn much less care about for the next 3 months. Enjoy!" Ok, I know it's not really like that, but still. I don't think I've come across a tougher batch of students to deal with. It feels like it's a daily fight to get them to listen or to stop talking long enough for me to impart some information. I don't want to sound like a super emo kid here, but it's just a rough time trying to assert my authority. 
Admittedly it is getting better. Today, according to Mrs. F, went really well. Of course I felt like the meanest creature on the planet and was really only acting that way because I was fed up with the way they were acting/treating me. So tomorrow, I'm just gonna stand up in front of 4th and 6th hour with a kick butt attitude and they can freakin' deal with it. Gosh darn it, I'm in charge here and I demand to be listened to. And if they don't like it, tough. (At least this is the pep talk I'll be running through between 3rd and 4th period.)
Don't get me wrong, I do care about them. Even my students that are failing so hard that they won't pass no matter what. I still want all of them to do well, but they need to stop trampling me so I can help. And also, it's not all the students that act like that. It's just pockets here and there. I really do have some fantastic students who are so smart, creative, and insightful. I just need to focus on them more and on my issues less.
/sigh

Thanks for being patient listening ears all my followers.