Being a parent of a second level student in today’s world is not easy. Pressures emanating from many different sources inevitably give rise to stress which in turn can result in conflict. Success today demands much greater commitment from the student than in the past. ‘Qualification Inflation’ has resulted in the need for higher and higher educational attainment in order to secure a preferred job choice or third level place. Parents need to see things as they are today, not as they were in the past. Most students require the positive and active encouragement and support of their parents – even though at times it may not seem this way! Parents must try to juggle all the demands of modem living, keep the lines of communication open (even during difficult times), work at resolving conflict when it arises, and reach agreed compromise when appropriate.