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The empty nest moment has arrived. Your teenager is about to spread his or her wings. So what advice can you give as a parent to this fledgling adult? Here are 15 pearls of wisdom in 140 characters or less (Twitter sized, if you will). Surely they can remember these?
1. Washing-up is like saying sorry. It gets harder to do the longer you leave it.
2.Be nice to everyone on the way up. You may need them on the way down.
3. Don't post anything on Facebook or Twitter that you wouldn't be happy to have read out at your first job interview.
4. Never, ever abandon a friend who's had too much to drink.
5.Just because you've got money in your bank account doesn't mean you have to spend it.
6. Most people you meet for the first time are probably more nervous than you are.
7. Work first, play later.
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8. If you have to sniff your duvet cover to see if it needs washing, it probably does.
9. Eat green vegetables. Raw, if necessary. Chips don't contain all the nutrients necessary to maintain good health.
10. Inform your parents about what you're up to on a need-to-know basis. They need to know you're alive.
11. Don't tell lies. They have a habit of stabbing you in the back when you least expect it.
12. Look after your teeth. Everything needs love and attention. Even gums.
13. Don't waste time trying to be cool. Really cool people don't care what people think of them.
14. Expect people to behave badly. If they do, you're prepared. If they don't, celebrate your good fortune.
15. Enjoy the moment. Because, as John Lennon once said, life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans
Do you have any more nuggets of advice you'd like to offer?