To leave 2 of my dd's out of making some buns

[ImnotOK]

I promised I wold make some buns with the girls this afternoon .
The two oldest (6 and 8) have been little buggers all day fighting arguing and been rude .I took them all to the local scrap store and we got lots of art stuff but as soon as we got home they were fighting again.
I am going to do the buns in about 30 mins but have told dd's that I am only letting the little ones help (5 and 2) because of their behaviour today .They are upset now and want to help what do you think am I a cruel Mummy?

No you're setting boundaries and following through on what you said you'd do.

No - I feel you have to set boundaries, especially over the holidays when you all have to live with each other ALL day...My dd was meant to have a friend over today to play but it was cancelled by her Mum `cos she had behaved so badly..valuable lesson learned by both children. I think you are very brave to do baking with all 4 at once anyway!!!

Stick to it, it will pay in the end.

YANBU. 4 children 'helping' with baking sounds difficult anyway; 2 is enough of a challenge!

yanbu and four helping is a nightmare anyway. I'd suggest that the older two get to bake next time (provding they behave). I'm having less stressful baking (and better cake!) by letting the littler ones play baking with playdough in the kitchen while the older two bake for real!

I dunno. Did you warn them that if they continued to do X, then the consequence would be no buns? If so, YANBU. If, otoh, the no bunmaking was a bolt from the blue, then maybe a bit hard.

I am very pro-discipline, but I think you have to give the child all the facts. They need to know in advance what the consequences are and then whatever happens - they made an informed choice!

Stop fighting, stop fighting, stop fighting ... RIGHT! NO BUN MAKING

is not as good as

Stop fighting! If you fight again you will not make buns, right you fought, so NO BUN MAKING

iyswim.

I did prewarn them twice ,anyhoo I made the buns with the youngest and they hung about on the stairs for two minutes looking sad then went upstairs to play a game with each other FFS .

Ah well, pre-warned then it's tough titty!

YANBU. You warned then twice.