Yikes! what to do when...

SIB WARS. A MYSTERIOUS KNOCK AT THE DOOR. A BROKEN LAMP. SAY SO LONG TO SITTER JITTERS WITH OUR STICKY SITCH SOLUTIONS...

Five-year-old twins Billy and Bobby won't stop wrestling over the family iPad...

Separate the sibs so they can cool off. A good rule to follow is a minute of time-out for each year of the child's age. It doesn't matter who "started it." You're there to stop it. Remind them that fighting is not OK and that round two will land them back in time-out.

You've just tucked everyone in when the doorbell rings, but no one mentioned a visitor stopping by...

Stay calm and don't open the door. It doesn't matter if the stranger says he's coming to fix the plumbing/check the meter/deliver pizza. Tell him to come back at a later time. Then, call the parents to give them a heads-up about the situation. And don't hesitate to dial your own parents, a neighbor or even 911 if you feel threatened.

It's all fun and games until a very expensive-looking lamp crashes to the ground...

Honesty is always the best policy, so clean up any mess before the kids hurt themselves, then 'fess up to the parents and apologize. Coming clean shows maturity.

Your gig was supposed to end at midnight--but it's 2 a.m. and Mr. and Mrs. Jones are still nowhere to be seen...

It's entirely possible they lost track of time, so start by calling or texting them. If they don't answer, call your parents or another trusted adult to wait with you until they return. (Just remember it is *never* OK to invite your friends over unless you have permission.)