Taken for granted

My AC have always accepted and respected that sometimes I cannot help. They regard their children as their responsibility and treat any input from me as a bonus.

We have 3 grandchildren all under the age of 6. Their parents both work full time in very well paid jobs. We signed up 4 years ago to pick up from childcare and school on Wednesdays bring back to ours for swimming club, supper and overnight. Breakfast, packed snacks and drop off at school the next day then collect and return them to their home where we give them supper, bath and await parents inevitably late return from work at around 7pm. Occasionally the no notice help out when one of the children is sick or they have a special occasion.
We also invite them all for lunches every other month or so without reciprocation to their very large property.
We love having them and the parents do say “thank you” regularly but am I being unreasonable to expect more? The occasional bunch of flowers, a bottle of wine, a voucher for a meal perchance? We seem to be taken for granted or is this just me?

Greenfinch

What happened to baby sitting circles that were quite prevalent when my children were young? I belonged to one and we babysat for them and they for us when needed so that I didn’t totally have to rely on my parents.

I was two hours away on public transport when I babysat for my sister's first two children. She didn't overask, never abused it and I was always happy to do the favour getting to see her and lovely niece and nephew at the same time.
BUT I didn't do the bulk of babysitting which was done by her local baby-sitting circle(cf quote). I don(t know how they kept a record but they took turns and "covered" each other.
I honestly think that she preferred to use them rather than me because she didn't have to make a fuss of them and they were geographically nearer !!!🤣🤣😊😊