I started babysitting for my two younger brothers when I was nine and three-quarters, an after-school gig that lasted approximately 78 minutes for five days of the school week. After a year or so, the 78 weekday minutes became an additional 120 on Saturday nights; my parents, for some reason, wanted Alone Time. I was compensated for my labour with control over the television remote and extra time with our Sega Genesis console, rewards supplemented by the belief that I was very grown-up and responsible?neither of which was exactly true. I was too young, but my parents were desperate. Eventually, I became an appropriate age and, so, babysitting was something I continued. Throughout high school, university and the post-undergrad muddle of unpaid internships and barely paid part-time work, I kept at it. Now a late-twentysomething career woman, I do it still?you know what they say about old habits. I have now been a sitter for 20 years. The occasional babysitter is a parental necessity. Without one, forget having a social life or ?me? time, never mind a romance. But for most, the era of grabbing the nearest 12-year-old from down the block (or not-quite-ten-year-old from beneath the same roof) is long over. Now, more than ever, parents are being picky about who is minding their brood. But it seems to be something of a sellers market these days. So how do you find a great babysitter" And how do you ensure that your dream sitter sticks around" Finding the right child-car...