Have an extra room in your house but absolutely no free time, and not one bit of extra energy? Dreading the back-to-school childcare madness? Maybe it’s time for a live-in.

Some of us have family schedules that we describe as “insane,” “crazy-busy,” or “ridiculous.” I have used at least two of those labels if not all three at various times in my life. I’ve learned the hard way that I need to ask for help or let some things go. But I know that when school starts, we’ll go back to the daily mess of getting up early. Picking the kids from school. Bringing them to this/that/the other. Errands. Work. Cleaning. Sports. Homework and school projects. I’m already tired just writing this. Excuse me while I go take a nap.

I’m not complaining. (Well, not too much.) I know I have a pretty sweet setup, but I also know that many local families have multiple kids, two working parents, a single working parent, or blended families with more than two working parents. Sometimes even the kids are working too – lots of local youth have entertainment industry gigs, making the schedule even more hectic.

While daycare or nannies are great options, a live-in caregiver can help you around the clock. And Cultural Care Au Pair, one of only 14 State Department-licensed agencies, can help match you up with an au pair from another country who not only cares for your children and helps your household run smoothly, but also shares his or her cultural background with you. (Hence the “Cultural Care” in the name.)

Using a set program with a flat fee pricing schedule, au pairs (au pair is pronounced “oh pare,” and is French for “on par,” which means they are just about the same as a family member) stay with your family for one year, with the option to extend for up to 12 months. The agency can even help you find someone who is great with babies, or multiples, or children with special needs.

The company has made the selection process easy and in tune with today’s plugged-in parents. It starts with the company’s website, which allows you to view potential au pair profiles online – they even have videos introducing themselves so you can see what their personalities are like.

When all costs are considered over the course of a year, it amounts to about $8 per hour for a 45 hour work week. This low price has me fantasizing about having more free time, less frenzy, and a helping hand who is energetic and even educational, teaching my kids about life in Brazil, or Italy, or Thailand. We have an extra bedroom in our house so there is plenty of room, and instead of hiring a nanny who might need to drive to Agoura Hills from far across Los Angeles, we would have our caregiver right here!

If you find yourself scrambling for childcare and you want something better for your family, consider Cultural Care Au Pair.

This weekend there is one more reason to consider an au pair! New families who register from Friday, August 2^nd thru Tuesday, August 6^th, 2013 will receive a $75 waived application fee in addition to a $500 program fee discount when welcoming an au pair to their home by October 4, 2013. Plus, new families who select their au pair by August 26, 2013 will receive an additional $500 program fee discount – a total savings of up to $1,075. When registering, families should use the promotion code PCAF2013.*

This post is sponsored by Cultural Care Au Pair. All opinions and fantasies are my own, but I have a feeling you might start having them too.

*To qualify for the $75 registration fee waiver and the $500 program fee discount, families must be new to Cultural Care Au Pair, register from August 2, 2013, through August 6, 2013, and welcome an au pair byOctober 4, 2013. To qualify for the additional $500 program fee discount, families must finalize their au pair selection by August 26, 2013. Selection fee of $175 must be paid upon final au pair selection. Offer cannot be applied retroactively and may not be combined with any other program fee discounts (excluding host family referral bonuses). Program fee discounts must be applied at the time of registration, and may only be applied to program terms of 30 weeks or more.