To order an Indian takeaway while babysitting?

[IJustWantATakeaway]

I’m babysitting for my SIL and brother next weekend. I love doing it and love seeing their kids, but it always leaves me in a bit of a pickle in terms of getting dinner. I try not to order out because I’m losing weight, but this weekend I just want to treat myself.

I love Indian food but live at home and my dad cannot stand the smell of it. My mum thinks if I order it I’m being very rude and it’ll annoy them, but they always offer to pay for one so I don’t know if it’s a bit unreasonable?! How would you feel if your babysitter ordered Indian?

You need to ask your brother and SIL if it’s OK . Nothing to do with your parents. Wash up the dishes as soon as you finish eating and open a window for a moment and there won’t be much smell. Your dad must be unusually sensitive to it. It would not bother me.

I’d never ask for money to do it!!

Wow! Your life must be very hard if you get 'livid' about such a usual thing as food smells.!!

If you aren’t capable of making such a decision on your own and have to go on a public forum I’d honestly question your suitability as a competent babysitter.

OP has to be 11 years old. 12 tops.

What a vile thing to call a child. Sorry.

I didn't say Indian food stinks. I said I didn't like the house to smell of curry. I don't eat blandly and the idea that any food that's not spicy is bland is ridiculous. It's like saying that any music that's not heavy metal is boring. There are many subtleties in different flavours. I love the smell of many foods. Your generalisation is plain wrong.

The only issue is that the parents will be coming home to the smell of takeaway, but if they have offered to pay for a takeaway it is totally fine to accept. Babysitting should never leave anyone "in a pickle" about dinner - making sure you'd be properly fed is a high priority for the grateful parents and I wouldn't do a babysitting favour fir anyone who didn't think my material needs to be worth their while. We used to get in a posh (m&s or Cook) ready meal in consultation with whichever kind friend/family member was helping us out. If they hadn't offered a takeaway I woukd check with them before doing it yourself, just because some people might be nauseated to come home to a smell they dislike. Personally I would be more likely to say "of course, we'll pay obviously, but can you order extra because I'm sure I'll want a taste of leftovers"

I don't think anyone on this thread has said that they don't cook food that smells.

I can have whatever rules I like in my own home. Happily it’s a non-issue for me as no guest ever been so rude as to order in hot food.

The smell of Indian food is pervasive though, it seems to get into the fabric of a house and extends to communal areas in a block of flats. Obviously not just from a takeaway. Some other foods are the same, people used to have a chip pan on the stove used daily, that made things smell awful too.

If you are worried about the smell take a price cooks candle ( the green one)

Thankfully you’re not who I’m babysitting for and they’re perfectly happy with my “competency”. Obviously from the responses it’s not quite as cut and dry as I thought and it’s a divisive issue!

Its perfectly normal to have food smells in a kitchen. You're not even cooking it so there'll be no cooking smells. I think your parents are being a bit weird and they're passing off their own peculiarities as normal.

Christ, they're not bloodhounds and it's just a takeaway, it's not like you'll be cooking up a whole feast. Get your takeaway and enjoy it. Your mum is weird but you probably already know that!

I would EXPECT my babysitter to order food in for themselves. This is a weird thread.

Just ask them?!

This is the strangest thread in a while....

Jesus, people do love a scrap don’t they? It’s just a courtesy to ask if they’d mind. They almost certainly won’t.

Some Indian food does smell but windows can be opened and air freshener sprayed around if it's an issue. If you are babysitting for free I'm sure your brother and sil won't care what you order and would probably pay for it too. Just put cartons in outside bin.

Well, that's up to you. I hope they appreciate it and at least buys you food. When you ask.

Ask them then. Simple. And ask if they want anything ordering and keeping warm. They may fancy a good scran when they get home or even pop in the fridge for Sunday night leftovers.

Your parents sound very sensitive to smells. Which probably makes them think everyone else is the same.
But most people dont mind food smells. And understand they are something you cant avoid. And also that they do go .
I would get the take out if I was you .

Most meals, if cooked and seasoned well, will smell. Even a nice English roast dinner.

I wonder why there is such an issue with Indian food?

Anyway, YANBU but your folks are not people I'd be spending time with.

No need for all the rude replies!
You’re basing your feelings on your parents opinions which is fine as why wouldn’t you?! However, it’s fine! If I had anyone babysit, paid or not, I’d want them to order food! I’d pay someone who wasn’t a relative and leave snacks/drinks for anyone. I’d probably not feed them unless I knew something they liked that was easy but I’d expect them to eat so to order in or bring a ready meal! The smell is usually from cooking so eat it and put rubbish outside and open a window if worried!

Enjoy x