For many moms, the first day of school is utter chaos. And when moms are disorganized, the experience becomes less enjoyable for their kids too. Three of the most common problems encountered on the first day of school are: (1) packing too much or too little, (2) coming in late, and (3) first-day jitters. Read the tips below to learn how you can avoid these boo-boos and even plan for next year’s first day.

(First published as “School Cool” in the “Got 30 Minutes?” section of Good Housekeeping Philippines’ June 2009 issue. Adapted for use in Female Network. Photo by April-DC via Flickr Creative Commons.)