To be a little annoyed by this token gift

It does sound quite shit.
How old are the children? Is this a couple of hours in the evening when the kids are in bed, or daytime babysitting? How close are you to the family?
Do you have children etc etc???

Hi @slightlyjadedbythis just uncommit if feeling appreciated is more important?

You are free to choose or not to help out. It would be a problem for them. It may cause ill feeling but they seem very happy with the arrangement!

I think Christmas is a great opportunity to show appreciation to others who help and support us. If they aren't showing appreciation (at any opportunity ) I would scale back on babysitting favours.

This is usually the way op tight arses. I would just let them down a few times this year day before if they cannot give you a gift that appreciates you they obviously don’t they use you your free and there personal help it would be a no from me. Let them down then don’t commit any time to them unless it suits you make sure you have the last laugh horrible selfish fuckers. They are ungrateful tight wads.

Our paid babysitter had a token of £25 for Superdrug... Just saying.

Do you have any children, @slightlyjadedbythis ?
If you don't but hope to have some one day, when you have children your siblings will expect you to still babysit for them and will probably never babysit for you.

If they haven’t been grateful during the year then I don’t think it’s a surprise that they are not being grateful now. Is it your brothers kids?

Can you tell them at some point that you feel they are taking advantage of you?

You're entitled to feel pissed off.
You can also tell them to find another babysitter in the New Year as you will be taking up other more rewarding social activities for your own enjoyment.

You owe your brother nothing.
He is abusive and so is his partner.

I just don’t understand how parents don’t think to get those who repeatedly help them out or make an effort to have a relationship with their kids a thoughtful gift at Christmas. Is it really beyond the realms of man for them to put themselves in the shoes of those who repeatedly show up for their family to show them some care and thought in return? Being busy/ skint etc is not an excuse - it’s showing that you notice and appreciate the support others give to your family and that you don’t take it for granted. Even inviting someone over for a nice meal over the festive period to say thank you would go a long way - rather than just being invited over to provide favours.

Be hurt. They’ve shown you how much they value you.
ffs though CHANGE! They’ve dropped hints that they’re entitled and been rude and stroppy before. You ignored these and continued to think the best of them. You’re hurt. That’s totally understandable. What’s not is if you carry on as you were. They don’t value your contribution to their life. They feel entitled to it. If you don’t share that view (which I really don’t) CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOUR. Good luck!

No need to pull back "gradually" when you are being abused.
Tell them to FO.

About as unhappy as they've made you with this?

I'd pull back massively on the babysitting, OP. If you being less available causes as much bad blood as you expect, then your siblings don't value you as a person. They value the labour you're giving them. If that's the case, there isn't much of a relationship there to lose, and it's time to get tough and start putting your own needs first.

They are royally taking you for granted.

I’ve said no once because I’m on holiday the date they wanted and it went down like a fart at a funeral. Really unhappy So this is where their behaviour goes down badly with you. Return their gift to them, tell them that you can’t use those products so you’re returning it to them so they can get their money back. Tell them not to worry about giving you an alternative gift though, because they have given you the gift of realisation. Which is where you have realised that all the help you give them means nothing and that they have zero respect for you. Tell them that you have reconsidered your availability and are now no longer able to assist.

I would uncommit. Give them 30 days notice and call it.
They've shown you they don't value you. AT all.

Doing 200+ hours of childcare is not a gift.
It's called being used by her brother and his partner.
How likely is it that a brother would do the same for a sister?
Close to zero.

Her brother and SIL are treating her like a doormat.
Time to get out.
Let them pay a babysitter instead.

Two Scrooges.
Give them both the boot - OP owes them nothing.

200 hours of babysitting? It would be around £2000. I would be busy next year. Game over.

You're being taken advantage of, and they know it! Just say you're sorry but you can't babysit any more (no need for a reason) and wish them good luck finding someone else!

You feel unappreciated, so pull back gradually and be less available to them.

I would at least start asking for expenses. Travel at a minimum, Deliveroo dinner/meals when necessary etc. You are saving them minimum £15 per hour whenever you babysit so it’s not going to be more expensive than that. I’d also make myself less available. As you say, it’s not about the actual presents but the appreciation/recognition. You said they’re going on several holidays next year - are they leaving the kids with you??

Stop being such a doormat. Be less available. You can change your mind.

You may have just worked out why they are quite well off!

Maybe just change your mind and stop giving them so much of your time

25 years ago my Mum provided childcare for one of my younger cousins a day a week so her parents could work.

At Christmas she got a big box of chocolates and a note written as if from my cousin thanking Aunty for all the lovely Tuesdays they spent being looked after her that year.

My Mum was in tears. The chocolates were a fraction of the money they saved on childcare, it was the appreciation and thanks that meant so much to my Mum.

These people don;t appreciate you so fuck them off.

Stop providing childcare.

Yes it will be uncomfortable but setting boundaries is uncomfortable.

Are you doing childcare while they go on holiday? If so, stop agreeing to it or charge them accordingly. It’s not your job to make their life easier and they clearly don’t value your time so just stop.

You’re an adult and they sound like ungrateful, spoilt, entitled idiots. Stop enabling their behaviour. Say no. The fact it was laughed about that the (cheap) present was bought last minute tells you all you need to know. Sounds like you’re completely taken advantage of - life’s too short to be a doormat for idiots.

OP grow a backbone and say no. They can pay a babysitter or find another mug to do it for free!