[RallyJon]

I've heard so many au pair nightmare stories. A former co-worker of my wife's had his Range Rover impounded after his European au pair and her um, edgy boyfriend were caught buying drugs in an inner-city neighborhood.

Think about it: an au pair is a teenage girl who was that desperate to get out of her parents house. Gives you a hint of the personality type.

For babysitting, give me a quiet, slightly geeky neighborhood girl whose parents I know well. I'd rather have a known personality and no rules, than a stranger and give them a list of 100 rules. It's all about trust.