There are many reasons why it's a good thing to have babysitter. The most obvious reason is that it's good to get away from your kids for a while. The other reason is that it's good to talk to young women to see what they're thinking. I get much more dirt from my babysitters than I do from students in class.

I see myself as both a feminist and a critic of feminism. The movement has brought about great things, but I also have some issues with the movement. A little dissent is a good thing. The movement's mistakes have made it so unpopular that most young women do not self-identify as feminists. And they have forgotten some of the basic messages. I find myself giving my babysitters little lectures from time to time. Of course, some lectures are held back, because I don't want to be too pushy.

So, here's my unrestrained advice to all future babysitters.

Never be dependent on a man. Learn how to manage your own finances. Spend more time reading books than blow drying your hair. If you dress dumb, people will treat you dumb. Even if you plan on being a full-time mom (which is a great thing), you still need to have a career to fall back upon. It should be a career that can support you and two kids. Travel. Don't take home economics classes in high school. Take the SAT prep class. Don't put pictures of your boobs on the Internet. Take a bus into New York City by yourself. Take your dates to a museum and rate them on their maturity level. Live in a dorm. Complain about things. Don't always listen to your parents.

UPDATE: Tim Burke gives us his list of life skills that all students should master.