Cheeky to order room service or not?

[Itsanotherworldisntit]

I’m babysitting in a 5 star hotel (live abroad, I’m a teacher and babysitting on the side pays well)
Lovely family, just put baby down, 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 (assuming that would go on their bill?)
Been here since 6, will be here for 6 hours, should have brought some snacks really but was sorting out my own Dd before I left and no time to nip to the shop on the way,

I’m hungry, but that’s cheeky right?

Would you order or no?

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.

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.

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.

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

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.....

But the parents don't want a text from the babysitter about something like this. They're out for the night and won't be constantly checking their phone for the purposes of ensuring the babysitter does as she was actually literally asked.

I compleeeeeeeetely agree re teachers!

If there was ever a thread that demonstrated the haves and the have nots on MN, this is it........

I would have tied myself up in knots exactly as you have OP.
I might have managed to order a coffee though!

"as they’d just arrived, don’t have anything really and to feel free to order something to be sent up (assuming that would go on their bill?)"

I think that is what they meant. Like twist it round "Itsanotherworldisntit there's cups in the bathroom which is drinking water, DO NOT have anything else here." That would have been a really really strange and controlling thing to say to an adult! So why would they think you needed telling that you could order and pay for your own food? What they said only makes sense if they were going to pay, otherwise why say anything? You could have used your own common sense to order and pay for your own food!

I don’t think I’ve ever read something so mad on Mumsnet. Christ alive woman. This prissy nonsense is so irritating.

I mean, I can understand the OP's anxiety about being made to pay. But their intentions are quite clear because they refer to themselves at length!
they just arrived and have nothing in - and (so) feel free to order up!

The ordering is in relation to them not having anything in , therefore they're expecting to pay. Just as they would have, if they'd stocked up.

Whatever subject OP teaches I hope it's not English or even another language/humanities...

Exactly. They could not have been clearer!

I don’t even think there is a way you can pay by your own card in a room service situation. The parents are decent people didn’t want their sitter to go hungry and understand that room service items aren’t cheap. It was clearly an offer at their own expense.

If the client had given permission and that was what they said then yes id order but id keep the costs reasonable, after all your doing them a favour, and to some people money is just a means to achieve x goals @Itsanotherworldisntit

I would be horrified if I got back to my hotel room and found it stank of takeaway!

@GreigeO 😂

@TheArtfulWriter Why be rude? I know what she was saying, I just felt a bit uncomfortable going ahead and ordering, especially at those prices

@TheLastTimeEver Ok 👍

I'm with you OP, I'd be REALLY uncomfortable about this! (And my card isn't linked to my phone either )

@CandiedPrincess 😂So you’re a failure at life, like me

Clearly @Itsanotherworldisntit Come and sit in the corner, hungry, with me.

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.

Why would I comment on that @PyongyangKipperbang it is completely irrelevant to the people in this particular case who clearly do not begrudge the OP having food at their expense.

As for this:

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?!

If you choose to go through life like that, that is down to you and not the fault of anyone else.

Several posters confirmed and reassured the OP that they were not getting it wrong which surely was the point of the thread, Op asked question, posters say yes, that is what they meant, order some food.

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.

Think that all you like I could say that you are getting a kick out of martyring yourself and painting rich people as mean and nasty. Go you.

Why has this gone to 9 pages of replies? You were told to "feel free to order something to be sent up". So, if you want something, order it. End of.

@exaltedwombat Im not there now

order something - I have taken babysitters away with me and if I said they could order something I wouldn't be expecting them to pay for it - if that was the case the babysitter wouldn't need my permission. I would be upset if they ordered the most expensive food on the menu with glasses of wine but something nice to eat and a drink is more than reasonable and it would be terrible not to expect someone to eat. I am sure the parents will have something to eat.

No you didn't. Your second post was asking - 'do you think it's on their bill' and then lots and lots of follow up agonising and replies on when they'll get the bill, whether it'll be awkward etc, 'it would have been clear if they left cash but not this' (paraphrasing).

Their instructions were clear. If you feel uncomfortable about ordering, that's fine, it's your decision to make.

But it's not because they were unclear. It's because you just don't want to. End of. Just own it instead of constantly bringing it back to the clarity of the text message. You don't 'have' to accept their offer if you don't want to , that's not what's annoying people it's that you're sort of blaming them for not being clear