I'll never forget those anxious, nail-biting moments when Mom and Dad took off for parent-teacher conferences. Don't get me wrong … I was a good student, but I worried anyway. Would I get in trouble for passing notes in history class or forgetting my math homework?

Years later, as I prepare for my own child's first parent-teacher conference, I realize it's much more nerve-wracking to be the parent than the kid. What if my child isn't doing as well as I hoped? What if he's not making friends in class? Will the teacher think I'm a bad parent? If this sounds like you, relax!