Just a normal football mum with a needy neighbour

I agree with this. You worded it like you were happy to help them and had done it altruistically expecting nothing in return yet you’re dropping the arrangement suddenly saying they didn’t offer anything in return? It doesn’t make sense. What do you want exactly?

Did they ever offer anything in return over the two years? I’m just wondering if they offered to pay fuel, bought little gifts of thanks etc? Also did you give them any warning or did you just randomly say sorry I’m not doing this anymore out of the blue?

I don’t think it sounds like they necessarily did anything wrong. You offered to help, they accepted and it’s continued for two years seemingly without complaint from you. You’ve now dropped it suddenly by the sound of things because you want to do different things after the match rather than returning their son home first. No wonder they’re peeved.

I don’t understand why you would carry on for so long without saying anything. That’s odd. If you didn’t want to do it or if you wanted the neighbour to take turns doing it you should have said something.

I’m sure I’ve read this exact same thread very recently. Have you posted this before OP?

You say you did this and expected nothing in return. But then say you're ending it because it's not reciprocated? So... you did want them to do something in return?

Yanbu to want to stop doing it, although personally I think I'd have said that you can carry on but that you can't do it every time because you sometimes have other plans.

I'm a bit confused by your post OP.

Another one here wondering how the neighbours kid made you change your plans. If you told the neighbours that you were fed up with their kid I can see why they won't let their kid play with yours. There seems to be some animosity there.

I was wondering why you changed your plans as well, unless you were planning to miss some training sessions, but didn’t so neighbours son wouldn’t miss out on a training session.

is your son continuing the training? If so, could you continue taking neighbour when you attend, but make it clear that it won’t be every week, or they’d have to find alternative arrangements to bring the boy home?

Edited to say I just noticed you are not friend with neighbours. One of those situations that started of small and now has got bigger. Why did they join a football club they couldn’t get their child to?

I guess this depends how you view it. On the face of it, it is fair as the favours are directly returned, so you take their child 1 week, they take yours next week. You are asking them to see the bigger picture, that your life as a single parent is harder than theirs and divide by adult rather than child. Did you talk about moving to a 3 week cycle? It seems a bit shortsighted to stop and then have to drive every week.

In terms of the OP, I'd be fed up if things were never reciprocated. It doesn't have to be the same, but offering playdates or help in other ways or having you round for a meal. I'd stop if it is impacting plans e.g. having to go straight home after.

It’s obviously fine for you to stop doing something that has become onerous, but it’s not clear to me why you were always ‘changing your plans to accommodate their child’ if they live next door and you were always taking your own child to training and matches?

I can’t believe you lasted 2 years. You did well to stop it but waited far too long. I was in a similar situation and the arrangement stopped after I realised I was driving every other week but the other 2 parents married to each other did one week each a month as opposed to each of us only doing every 3 weeks. It pissed me off because I was a knackered single mum juggling work and kids and I still had to ferry my own DD which was tight getting them both to places on time. I felt used, disappointed in my friends and let down.