It took three years and three children before I mustered the courage to hire a teen to babysit.  She came highly recommended (from a very close friend) but I had never seen her.  I opened the door to an adorable blonde girl who looked all of 12 years old.  But she drove herself, her car was in my driveway, and I knew she was almost 17.  We had waited until the 3 and 2 year old were asleep to go out, so she was only left really having to care for our 9 month old and all went well.  But that was the fastest Cracker Barrel meal I've ever eaten!

Since then we've hired several homeschooled teen girls to babysit the children, sometimes with me at home doing chores and other times where we've left them and gone out to eat.  I've learned a few things and made some mistakes.

1.  Advertising in a homeschool newsletter, subdivision newsletter, and church bulletin boards (even for churches you are not a member of) can help you find a good sitter.

2.  It is vital to be very clear about what is allowed and is not allowed.  I now post a list on my fridge with many details and try to go over as many things as I can as to what I prefer be done.  A big mistake once was not thinking to say "Don't let the children run up and down the very steep hill of our concrete driveway."  My daughter has two good sized scars from such an experience with a babysitter.  Better yet, "Don't let the children run up and down the very steep hill of our concrete driveway while you are inside the garage and unable to see them."  I know.  Not something you'd think you'd have to tell someone.  But there it is.  Now I say more specifically "Please keep up with the younger children.  Don't let any of the children out of the back yard!"

3.  Teen siblings can be a blessing or  . . . not so much.  I'll call for one teen and they'll sometimes send her sister without letting me know in advance that the one I called wouldn't be available.  I now won't call families with close-in-age siblings unless I know that all the girls all good sitters!

4.  A great babysitter is a gift from God!  The best sitter we've ever had brings a canvas bag full of games, markers, crafts, and spends the entire time entertaining our children even though we tell sitters they are welcome to use videos as much as they need to for maintaining order and sanity.

5.  I like to pay them as much as we can reasonably afford (which ends up not being very much for them when you break it down per child/per hour considering we have six children!) and if possible give gifts for Christmas, graduation, etc..  They work hard and are taking care of the most precious little  souls in our world and I want them to know how much we appreciate their help.