Feel like I’m sponging

[HHN]

So me and my 3 dc meet up with my mam about once every two weeks normally go somewhere like the park, beach or soft play. My mam always insists on buying out lunch I do offer every time but she insists. Then if we pass a ice cream van/shop she then insists on buying us all a ice cream too it’s happened the passed 4/5 times we’ve been out together and as lovely as it is I’m now I’m feeling really guilty that I should have done more to make sure I paid some of the time. Am I bad for allowing her to pay

My mum is exactly the same. We went out for a meal which she insisted on paying for a while ago and when my DCs needed another drink it nearly caused a row because I got up and got them and wouldn’t let her pay for them. I think sometimes they like to treat them and us. I’m sure when mine are older I’ll be doing the same thing.

Sponging would be seeing her much more regularly than once a fortnight and expecting lunch & ice cream each time without ever offering to pay.

It sounds like she's a doting grandmother who wants to treat her family!

My DM is the same, I have much more than her, but she wants to. She enjoys it and doesn’t want to take anything from me. I given up arguing!