The parenting blogs are all a buzz about Adam Davidson's magazine piece about high priced nannies. He profiles one nanny  who pulls in serious cash. 

As one of New York City’s elite nannies, Muneton commanded around $180,000 a year — plus a Christmas bonus and a $3,000-a-month apartment on Central Park West.

There's an agency in the city that places high priced nannies. These women are not only Mary Poppins with the kids. They also will drop all plans at a moment's notice to watch the kids and have additional skills.

 According to Pavillion’s vice president, Seth Norman Greenberg, a nanny increases her market value if she speaks fluent French (or, increasingly, Mandarin); can cook a four-course meal (and, occasionally, macrobiotic dishes); and ride, wash and groom a horse. Greenberg has also known families to prize nannies who can steer a 32-foot boat, help manage an art collection or, in one case, drive a Zamboni to clean a private ice rink.

A fellow grad student once told me that she worked for a super wealthy family in the city that got off on having an entire staff of ABDs as servants. She worked for them as a personal assistant as she finished her dissertation in English literature. It was better money than adjuncting. 

This article is getting so much attention, because most people can't afford basic daycare costs for their kids. It's the largest item on monthly budget, after the rent or mortgage payment. Other luxury goods that the rich enjoy like cars and boats are annoying, but accepted. There is a lot of irritation about inequality around childcare.