They had a list of age-appropriate games, which my son actually took with him on his first couple of jobs. The course also went over what to do in uncomfortable situations, such as a parent coming home drunk and expecting to drive the sitter home.

What I learned from when I hired sitters is that we as a family developed a great deal of affection for them. We used them for years and watched them grow up, marry and have children of their own. My daughters actually sit for children of their old sitters!

If my child is sitting over meal time, it is both polite and practical to feed the sitter, too.

Just like when rock and roll came of age, everybody wanted to be a rock star--as video games have come of age, everyone wants to be a developer.

[Playing scores of bingo games at once] is really exciting, ... It's good, clean fun in my old age.

It's more than just us. The old alums, it's important to them.