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26 Hudson Valley Parent Q 2012 Baby Guide Care to stay for a while? Affordable in-home help for your busy family By JENNIFER COLUCCI P lay dates, piano lessons, home cooked meals, a mom's to-do list is endless! Wouldn't it be nice to have a live-in nanny or au pair helping out around the house? I know what you're thinking: "Sure an au pair would be nice, but I can't afford that!" What if I told you, in-home care can be just as affordable as daycare? Tiffany Bruno, a Spackenkill mom, spent six months researching different types of in-home care before selecting an au pair to take care of her little ones. Since Tiffany is a teacher, she spent her summer vacation teaching her au pair the ins and outs of her home and family. When it came time for her to go back to work, she had no reservations about leaving the children in the au pair's care. Many people believe the terms "au pair" and "nanny" are synonymous, but there are some clear-cut differences. Choosing an au pair An au pair is typically a young woman from another country, who lives with a family for a minimum of one year to provide in-home childcare services. In addition to supervising the children, an au pair also does light housekeeping, bathing and dressing of the children, assistance with homework, driving the children to and from activities, laundry and meal preparation. An au pair can provide your family with invaluable flexibility; imagine a morning routine that doesn't involve forcing sleepy kiddies out of their beds and into a daycare center. Finding the right fit Theresa Estes, a local mom who is currently on her sixth au pair, calls the experience "life enhancing." Since she and her husband both commute to the city for work each day, being able to leave her girls in their own home is priceless. Her children are able to participate in after-school activities such as Girl Scouts and ballet lessons. It's also a big plus to know her children are eating nutritious organic meals, prepared in their own home by their au pair. Feeling comfortable with your au pair is essential. "These girls live in your home, drive your car and are entrusted with the care of your children while you are away at work — it's a very big responsibility. An au pair is also the face of your family with respect to your children while you are away." Always remember, you are never "stuck" with an au pair. If you and your family are uncomfortable with your assigned caretaker, it is imperative that you contact the agency to make them aware and request a change. Between ushering kids to daycare, play dates and working a full-time job, life can get stressful. An au pair can help you bridge the gap between work and family.