WIbu to contact a boss from 4/5y ago via FB?

[ConfusedPixie]

I was a live-in mother's help for a year in 2008-2009ish. The family were amazing, absolutely lovely and the mother continued to give me great references up until I got my last jobs 18 months ago and I expect she probably would again when I need to find a new job.

I am wondering if it is a bit weird to contact via fb, but the only way of contacting her I have is a mobile number, I don't really want to call and want to say more than would fit on a text. I have an old work email but have discovered via google that she has moved on from the company so it probably won't work any more.

I really just want to say hello, thank her (and the rest of the family) for being such a fantastic support for me when I worked for them and for continuing to give me good references which have landed me jobs that I love doing even if the kids drive me up the wall sometimes!

I would like to ask how they all are but am not sure if she'd even want to respond so not sure whether to leave it as a closed message iyswim? But her daughter borrowed her phone last year to text me during the Olympics (to tell me they had seats at opening night! Cheeky mare! I was a tad jealous!) so I couldn't imagine she would be bothered if I tried to reopen channels?! I have very fond memories of my time with them and would like to get back in touch.

Anyway, AIBU?

YANBU at all! I'm sure she would love to get a message like that. I also would ask about the family - she can always write a quick response and i think it would seem weird if you didn't ask.

YANBU I think it's a lovely idea

Yanbu. I was an au pair 20 years ago and I'm still in touch with my family, I now consider them to be my family.

Go for it, what have you got to lose?

I'm FB friends with four lovely women who looked after my DC at various times. I think you should.

Thanks for responding, I was planning to eventually get around to writing an email probably in ten years time but when I noticed that she had left the company I realised I couldn't email any more and feel a bit iffy doing it via FB, maybe because there is the adding the friend element to it as well!

I will message her tomorrow though, you've all made me feel better about it and not like a weird stalker or something

There's a very quaint but well received form of communication often forgotten nowadys. Carefully chosen card, andwritten well thought out message, you give her your details and if she wants she can respond. Would be nice I think x

The only problem with messaging her through facebook is that unless you are fb friends with her (or possibly if you have mutual friends) it will go into her 'other' message inbox, so she won't be notified and may never see it.
There was a thread on here the other day full of people who hadn't realised that the other inbox existed, and discovered all sorts of stuff in there.
Personally, I'd probably send her a text saying hello, hope you're well, would it be OK if I give you a quick call about something? Or a card/letter if you have her address.

I can't send by post either, they moved house shortly after I left them and I never did get the new address, otherwise it would be my first choice :(

Ah bollocks, forgot about the other inbox bullshit! I might contact her old company and see if she left a forwarding email address then, or do it via twitter I suppose!