The board exams are here again and Sheela Fernandes* a homemaker and mother of two schoolgoing children, is doubly stressed out.

Her children 15-year old Sheena* and 14-year old son Paul* are preparing for the Class X board examinations and the Class IX final exam, scheduled in March.

Says Sheela, who is practically a nervous wreck these days, "Sheena tends to go blank suddenly and can't remember any answers she has learnt. I am less worried about Paul because he comes in the top three in his class and is very intelligent, though I have to push him to study. I often don't get sleep at night."

According to Sheela, her kids are 'hyper' and 'distracted', compared to Sheena's classmate, who is more 'mature' and attends to his studies on his own.

No doubt, in such competitive times, being a parent can't come easy. But many parents like Sheela tend to break basic rules in their effort to make their kids score better.

Maya Kirpalani, a consultant psychologist with Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai, who regularly counsels anxious students, has some suggestions to offer to parents and students on how to stand the test of exam stress and be in control.

* Names changed on request

Text: Merril Diniz
Illustrations: Dominic Xavier