How do I deal with a difficult sibling?

How can I deal with my child's friend's older sibling?

• My son is 5. He has a friend, also 5, with an older brother, age 8. The five year olds play together just fine. It seems like the 8 year old only comes around to play with our Xbox360. He doesn't really interact with the other kids. The 5 year old is well behaved, while the 8 year old is a disciplinary nightmare. No never means no for him. It just means whine harder til you get what you want. He cries when he doesn't get his way, worse than the younger kids do. I've seen him when playing outside - he'll just threaten to go home if the younger kids don't give him his way. It's gotten to where I don't even want to answer my door so I don't have to deal with this kid and his total lack of respect. And yes, I've been strict with him. If I say no to him, I stick to it, because I've seen his whining in action. It doesn't keep him from still trying. I'm pretty sure I have to talk to his mother to get this sorted out. How can I be diplomatic about asking that the 8 year old go find some friends more his age, but that the 5 year old still get to come and play?

• Answer:

  I have rules in my house and we expect the guests to follow them as well, so they can either stay and behave, or go home. If you want to whine to your own parents and say no, thats between you and them, but to whine to someone elses parents and refuse to behave, thats just disrespectful. If he starts whining, simply say "those are the rules, they are what they are, I would love it if you would stay and play with us but if you dont stop whining or Im going to have to ask you to leave." and follow through.