Start playing the right tape over and over in your head. Chances are, everything is going to be OK, so go ahead and believe that's true. As Today's Parent pointed out, children are prepared to handle milestones better that you think. Both you and your child are more ready to handle this day than you give yourself credit for.

There is no rule about having a cry once your child is at school. Give yourself permission to blubber over your baby going to school after you drop them off. Hold it in when you fell the tears coming on, and remind yourself you have the green light to cry once your child cannot see you any more.

When it starts to feel like you just can't do it, remind yourself why this is a good choice and repeat it over and over. To overcome those first day feelings, give yourself a pep talk of positivity about why going to school is best for your child, as suggested by Parents magazine online.

When my oldest shipped out to kindergarten, a friend hosted a little morning gathering for all of us who just sent our little off to school. She had mimosas and snacks for us to enjoy while we talked about how the morning went. Having people who are experiencing the same thing around is a great comfort on though days.

Most people think "Meet The Teacher Night," is for the kids (and of course, they benefit from this preview), but these events are also good at easing the nerves of parents. Having a visual of exactly where you child will be all day helps you to feel more in control and calm about sending them off on the first day. As Scholastic's website pointed out, most teachers invite families for this type of event, but if your's does not, call and ask if you can pop in for a quick visit.

Anticipating a day full of feelings after dropping your child off on the first day of school? Plan something fun for yourself that day so you have something to look forward to. Perhaps lunch with a friend, a pilates class, or a shopping trip will be a good distraction for you until pick up time.

To have a more relaxed start to the day, get up early on the first day of school as the website for PBS Parents suggested. Waking up with time to spare will remove any extra stress from rushing to get out the door on time.

If you feel like you're going to lose your cool when your little one heads out on the first day, don't beat yourself up. You're allowed to have emotions about this. Be kind to yourself and remember that each day gets a little easier.

One sure way to avoid coming unglued on the first day of school, is to have some consequences. Make a harmless bet with a a friend or your partner that if you lose composure than you have to do something like buy them breakfast or do all the dishes for a week.

When you're trying to keep your nerves in tact, doing as much as you can to prepare in advance will help. As Kids Health pointed out, creating a check list of back to school items will set you up for success on the first day of school.

Keep yourself calm with nice deep breaths. According to Psych Central, deep breathing helps our nervous system with fight or flight, and can be beneficial in stressful situations.

I know it sounds very unicorns and rainbows, but reminding yourself of all the good reasons and positive things that will come from this school year ahead can keep you from feeling overwhelmed on the first day of school.

If you're worried about staying cool on the first day of school, ask for reinforcements. See if a friend or family member is available to come with you when you drop off your child. Having someone their to support you can make you feel stronger and more capable of handling hard situations.