Chipmunk, a very valid point.
Regarding the cost-neutral option; our Au Pairs were
almost cost-neutral.
They only cost us a little more than what I made at the time...
Not working in the UK, with us there was and is no such thing as sector pay, overtime pay and all the other baffling extras I read about on this forum. I have worked 50% since our eldest was born and didn't actually make any money on it for as long as we employed the Au Pairs. When we moved abroad, I had the cost of my tickets to get to base, and then it actually cost us money. As my husband used to say "I have heard about women who play bridge and tennis and golf. You go out flying darling, and it costs about the same" 