We were caught in a modern hell.

Yes, you guessed it. We were assembling large quantities of Ikea furniture in a hot small University room, helping out a great friend. It made me think we should, if I did not loathe and resent the stupidity of reality TV, shoot a pilot called “FOOLS with TOOLS.”

Except for the fact that it was all going really well. I am not saying it was fun. I am just saying that the bookshelf holds books now and the bed holds bodies.the body of one chaste and perfect teenager. And holy moly, I love a power screwdriver.

In the middle of the hottest day of the summer, doing this not so fun job in still, hot and sticky air,  cute boy and old friend, arrives to say ‘hi’. After an hour tells us “Everyone is down at the pier having a beer”

I WANT TO GO. NOW.

Oh yeah. Shoot. I am the mom.

I swear I had all those fabulous butterfly feelings being in a University town, with the sun shining on the sparkly lake and all that hope with a side order of raging hormones.

After we finished and it was time to leave I said to anyone who would listen “Go have a beer on the pier. Anyone my age regrets more what they did not do rather than what they did. Look out for each other, surround yourself with solid people and say “yes” as much as you can.”

art studio for children ‘taking the plunge’

And then I threw in “When it is reasonable and fairly safe” because I knew I sounded freakishly like a mom who had left her senses behind. (Even though I believe it is excellent advice)

Later that night I got a text ” We spent the afternoon and evening on the pier. HAD THE BEST TIME”

Et le voila.

I nearly cried.

Being a parent means the only thing better then you hanging out on the pier as the sun sets surrounded by good and fun people with hot bods, is your child doing so.

Did I just say that? Yes it is true but my favourite word right now is SOLID. Solid people, solid choices, solid SOLID SOLID. Say it with me.

With a side order of hot bod, on a pier with a beer.

Click here for solid notes to my solid girl. ‘Chicks before dicks’ and ‘go jump in a lake’ feature prominently.