ClostGoth

Everyone has had awesome responses to this, and I don't have really much to add. I just wanted to say that I trust my teenaged MALE babysitter more than I trust my own family with my kids. It didn't start out that way - he was referred by a friend with 6 kids. I had to meet the kid, see him interact with my children, and then have a couple of "trial runs" where I spent a movie or two just totally unable to concentrate or have a good time. Once I saw that my kids were comfortable with him, and ask for him if they know we're going out, then I knew he was taking good care of my kids and I would recommend him to anyone else needing a sitter. He's about to turn 17 and (being homeschooled and finished with his high school curriculum) he's about to head off to college. We're going to miss our sitter! Sometimes our kids are even disappointed to find out that we're not going out on a given weekend. "Mom, can't you go see a movie or something? We haven't seen Andrew in WEEKS!"

I'd like to add that minimum wage (at least) is usual for the sitters we've looked into. Andrew only charges us $2 per kid per hour since we have such a houseful. It can add up quick, but he's worth it. He cleans my living room if he's here after the kids are in bed (he's great with bed time battles) and even does cool things like help me carry in groceries if I'm struggling with them while he's running his paper route... Good teens are out there. I've met some pretty irresponsible silly ones I wouldn't want near my kids too, though. I think it would have to depend on the kid and how your kids react to them...

__________________
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.
--Douglas Adams