Cheeky to order room service or not?

Thats how YOU hear it, others may not hear it the same way and as a result may be concerned that they may get it wrong. Can you really not comprehend that?!

Actually I take that back, you clearly can but are taking some kind of kick from making others feel stupid to make yourself feel superior. Go you.

ETA Women who babysit in this way are usually doing it because they need the money. So a mistake in understanding about who pays when ordering food on room service could be the difference between taking home (say) £100 and taking home £75 .... not a risk I would be prepared to take when on a low income. And yes the OP is a teacher but that doesnt mean that she can afford a misunderstanding like that. As I said before, a lot of v rich people bregrudge a penny more to the help than they need to pay, and yet oddly enough you havent commented on that.....

I've taken a babysitter on a few holidays and said to order food from room service. I cover food and other expenses.

Most people if they were a bit unsure would call or text with the parent/s to confirm what is ok. If you're too uncomfortable with that then just order the cheapest sandwich, by room service as you shouldn't leave your caree. And either you get reimbersed or you know to pack some food for next time.

You mention you're a teacher - which isn't relevant to babysitting - but this self-flagellation/poor me mantra by teachers is beginning to put off so many people (the [teacher] doth complain too much), just as Extinction Rebellion are turning people off with their Orange-shit too.

It's been many a year but I used to do a lot of babysitting and there was almost always a frozen pizza or something of that ilk deliberately left for (and pointed out to) me if I wanted it.

I get you are an overthinker. Harness this into a great opportunity for the future. Sounds like you are in a good location and well qualified to babysit and working in 5* or high net worth families is a bit of a niche.

5• Hotels usually offer in house babysitting services but they come at a premium rate once the agency and hotel add their cut to the bill. If you were a direct hire to the family, then even with a whacking room service bill you are probably a bargain in comparison.

Channel your overthinking into whether with you could make this your thing.

For heaven's sake, OP, she told you to order food. She was probably embarrassed that there was nothing to offer you. She had asked you to babysit for several hours and knew you wouldn't have any other way of getting something to eat.

I'm sorry, but you are being a martyr over this. It's ridiculous that you are starving and still won't even order a sandwich. Of course you shouldn't order lobster and champagne, but sandwich and tea or a soft drink is absolutely fine.

İf you're finding it really hard, can you order yourself something on deliveroo/Uber eats and ask reception to bring it up?

Seriously, @Itsanotherworldisntit - you need to work on your confidence and self esteem to stop yourself from this kind of twisted illogical thinking. Lots of self-help books available, e.g. The Six Pillars of Self Esteem.

Post Covid, a lot of hotels just provide a fridge and at 5* you request them to fill it with miniatures. Also has the benefit of not needing to pay staff to check the contents each day.

@Itsanotherworldisntit maybe it's heavily disguised as a posh cupboard. I'd suggest trying all the drawers except that seems weird too.

If you're unsure, I’d send the family a quick text just to clarify what they meant.

🤣🤣🤣

Anyone who stays in a 5 star hotel knows how expensive the food is and doesn't have to care.

the mum texted and said to make yourself comfortable etc and help myself to anything, but that as they’d just arrived, don’t have anything really and to feel free to order something to be sent up

@PyongyangKipperbang there is nothing ambiguous there, the people who hired OP state that they haven't been able to get anything for her before her arrival so she is to feel free to order something to be sent up instead.

The key words are feel free they know it will be charged to their room, they do not expect the OP to pay for it otherwise they would not have mentioned it at all.

I'd overthink this too. Help yourself to anything? Order something? I'd agonise whether they meant food or drink and did they know how expensive it was. Just out of interest, is there not a mini fridge with a packet of sweets in it?

'Feel free to order something' is her telling you they'll cover it! Otherwise why would you need her to say so?
Also whenever I've had people babysit in the evening I've provided food.

I'd find it awkward as arse too OP. It's a strange dynamic. Business relationship but necessarily personal because of the nature of the work. Throw in the offer of an overpriced club sandwich being brought to a room that isn't yours-nope. I'd struggle to relax into that.

Even the thought of sitting in a hotel room that you can't relax in makes me unable to unclench.

Because they probably forgot to mention it before leaving.
Either way, whether it was an afterthought is irrelevant, because it was clearly offered! They didn't leave money because it goes on their bill!

Its not thinking you are talking shite, its the ambiguity of "just order something to be sent up". It doesnt specify who is paying.

Its an expensive deal ordering room service in a 5*, and the OP would hardly be babysitting for them if she could afford to stay there herself! I wouldnt want to spend an evening babysitting only for half of what I earned to be witheld for my food, so I would go without and confirm who is paying for next time.

I have met some people who would assume they were paying, you appear to be one of them, but also the richest people I have met can also be the tightest when it comes to "the help". So I wouldnt put it past someone prepared to pay £1000 a night for a room to bregrudge paying for a £25 burger. So I wouldnt risk it. Frankly, I cannot afford a misunderstanding.

Perhaps its an age thing, I used to tie myself in knots over this but now I would be direct and say "Just to be clear, am I charging to your bill or paying myself?" simple question and easy to answer.

Yep. Don’t make it awkward tonight when they come back. But since you have another booking later, clarify any thing that’s still worrying you well in advance of the next shift.
But don’t go in all wet and drippy. I need confidence you’d know what to do in a crisis, and keeping yourself fed is way down the list of worst case scenarios I need to know you can handle by yourself as my babysitter.