Anyone with an au pair/live in nanny?

Roco&Leche

We are considering one...any thoughts?

DallasHorn

Before DH switched jobs at his company, we would have had the space for a live-in. But now that he offices from home (sales) and I WFH, plus 2 kids, 2 dogs and a nanny in our house durign the workday, I personnally believe for us it would be too much to have a nanny live with us too.  However, we don't have a basement, and it seems those with a live-in often have a basement room/bathroom for the nanny, so she really has her own space.

future mrs. jimenez

I have a lady come stay with us 2 days a week and DS goes to my mom's the other 3 days a week.  She's been cleaning my mom's house since I was 14 then cleaning my house every other week since we bought it so I've known her a long time and trust her.  She has 3 grown children and 7 grandchildren.  When the baby's asleep she cleans.  The house is spotless when I get home.  I love it, she is such a good worker.  I live in San Diego and she lives in Tijuana.  It works out very well for us.

Roco&Leche

Yeah. The nanny will have her own space.  Besides that, how do you feel?

duchess0727

Both my best friend and my SIL had a live in au pair (through cultural care).  My best friend has an IL suite in her basement so it?s a great living arrangement.  She really likes her au pair and the au pair has made some friends and spends her time off with them, which helps the situation.  My SIL had 3 au pairs over the course of 2 years ? two of them had a lot of friends (other au pairs through the program) and also spent their time off out of the house.  The one in the middle had no friends and that drove my SIL nuts b/c she was always hanging around and in the middle of their family time.  She only had an extra bedroom so the au pair slept there.  In fact, one of the au pairs ended up staying in the US and she and my SIL are still friends. 

SFAug07

We have an Au Pair and it is a wonderful set up for us. We bought the house with the intention of having the space for an Au Pair to live with us. She is part of our family and DD loves her. It is so good to see DD's face light up when she sees her. Makes it much easier to leave for work in the morning. It also gives us the flexibility to go out on dates, as the Au Pair just works that evening too. DH and I have had our weekly datenight since DD was born and it helped us continue to feel like a couple.

Roco&Leche

So, how many hours do you work so that you can also add a date night?

I work 9-5 so I am out of the house from 10-6 that means that I need 50 hours but au pairs are maxed at 45.  So, the plan is to have my mom or someone else take the kids 1 day per week so that we can have those 5 hours floating for running erands and date nights.

SFAug07

I work full time but can do some work at home after hours when DD is sleeping.