Au Pair and facebook request

[stoppingat3]

Hi All, We are new to this au pair lark and I wanted to seek some advice on her requesting me as friend.
We have a lovely (sounding!) girl coming in a month to help over the summer.
We have spoken on the phone and chatted on email. At the end of her last one she mentioned that she is on facebook if I would like to contact her.
As she has put the ball in my court I am not really sure what to do, In my heart I don't think that I want to do this yet butI am worried that this may seem rude.
What would you do?
Thanks for your help, I suspect I could be on here a bit in the weeks to come as it all seems a bit daunting but exciting!

My last au-pair only really added me as a friend so I could see some photos etc. Now that she has left it is lovley as she can keep in touch easily and send my DD messages.
Its quicker and more spontanious than skype for instance for her.
But if you want to keep it private, just don't take it any further.

I wouldn't. Her FB should be her own space.

Add her after she leaves by all means, it does make keeping in touch easier, but if she wants to rant about you when she's here then you don't need to see it popping up in your news feed. And vice versa.

If you don't want to then say so but mention that after you leave you'll probably friend her then.

I'm a childminder so it's different but I have 7 parents of children I look after as 'friends' on Facebook. But then again, most of us have known each other for 2/3 years now so had built a relationship. I'd probably see how you feel once she's started with you, unless you'd like to see more about her? Just make sure you're sure once you accept as obviously it would be hard to remove her (if you wanted to) whilst she's still with you.

I think its a great idea, will give you a bit more of an insight into the kind of person she is 'really' and help you get to know her better. She must be pretty confident that her facebook page is 'acceptable' viewing or she wouldn't have added you.

I have an ex AP who is a Facebook friend, but the last one started off being my friend, then must have blocked me - not because of any problems, but because she probalby didn't want me seeing any rants about me / my boys / discussions about her brother's love life. I'd probably wait and see...you can always say you don't really "do" facebook.

I have some x-nannies on my facebook. It's a good way to keep in touch with people living in other corners of the world. But, I wouldn't put a potential or even current au pair on because that is my space and I don't always share my whole life with my employee. And likewise I'm sure she would like some privacy from me too.

You are obviously a bit uncomfortable or you wouldn't have started this thread. Just don't do anything.

Thanks all I think I'll do nothing now and if she mentions it again I'll be vague.
I realised after I started this thread that there was a post a few weeks ago from a friend that new I was looking for a AP who made some joking comment about her sleeping in the garden (space issue now resolved) so am quite pleased I didn't jump straight in.
Many thanks

i have ex mb's on my fb just as strix has ex nannys

great way to keep in touch - i also have my 1st charges on it,were 4mths and 5yr and now 19 and 24 - and the things my sweet innocent charges do .......

but there is no way i would add my current mb/db - even tho they are fab

we both need a bit of privacy - tho have to say i have never moaned about them on my fb, lets hope she is the same about me