Comparing child care costs: Can you afford an Au Pair?
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- How impressed were we, to walk into the Hardages' home in Riverside and hear 2-year-old blond-haired, blue-eyed Olivia speaking Chinese as well as she does English.
"She picked up the language so quickly," says Olivia's mom, beaming with pride.
"And we have Chen to thank for it!"
24-year-old Chen Zhang has been a fourth addition to the Hardage household for the past year-and-a-half.
"The benefits for our family are great," explains mom and dad, Charlie and Elizabeth Hardage.
Chen has her own room in the Hardage home, shares meals -- she's considered more a member of the family than merely an employee.
Chen is what's called an au pair: a childcare worker -- very often from overseas -- who lives and works in the home, in exchange for salary, room and board.
