Why, Dear Lord, did I not come along as the family’s last born? They always had it easy!

The more things change, the more they remain the same. Did you slug out your early years in a typical family set up? How many siblings do you have? Does the first born display a similar demeanor and personality with the last born? The nays have the day.

The sequence of your birth had a huge impact on how you turn out in life.

The first-borns’ always had it thick. They had to grow up fast. Miniature, little adults. They had to fill larger than life shoes of their parents, most of the time. It didn’t help that the first born would come during the ‘difficult years’ – as the parents were trying to find a foothold in the difficult ladder of life. Perhaps, just out of college and strapped to the chin with HELB loans.

The first born had to learn the intricate art of changing diapers, fast. The official babysitter, while the parents scrimped around for the evening meal. Cooking, and coping with inevitable kitchen accidents. Oh, every first born deserves a golden seat.

The last born, however, took the icing off the family cake. They had undefined roles, often weary tasks in the household.

Every other day, guests would arrive. The last born had the unenviable task of being the family mascot. It wasn’t uncommon to be asked to dance for a guest. It didn’t matter if one liked it or not, mother’s word was law. And it would involve a wee bit of emotional blackmail:

“Babaa, hebu dance for Aunt Kanji ndo next week twende show…”

“Zack, hebu show Uncle Mike how MJ did the moonwalk...ama hutaki viatu mpya za shule?”

Well, it wasn’t always downhill for the dancing last born, though. They had lots of fun moments.

They had the princely task of taking the random guest through the family photo album. It was tradition. The guest arrives to a lot of fanfare. In those days, an average household wouldn’t have a phone, so every arrival was a surprise. A choreographed reception would involve feigned cries of surprise, and a presentation of the family albums.

It was the duty of the last born to take a position on the lap of the guest, and do a running commentary on the photographs, as the tattered pages turned.

“Uncle, hii ni wedding ya Mama Ben, yule wa grocery”.

“Auntie, huyu ni mum na dad wakiwa college…”

The guest would naturally bring along a loaded bag, with all sorts of goodies. It was okay for the last born to receive it, and the usually stern mother would indulge him, as he rummagesd the shopping.

“Oh, mum……. this is my bread and cake!”

Meanwhile, the first born would be leading a gang of the in-betweens on endless chores. Fetch water.  Feed insatiable goats. Sweep the yard. All this while, the last born swinging on the laps of the guest, all cuddly.

The last born doesn’t deserve to be within a mile of The Golden Seats.

On back-to-school days, no prizes for guessing who got better financial remuneration in terms pocket money. Biased shopping lists! This is our baby. One could be a dust-covered brat edging on his sixth year, and still be called ‘the baby’. But, why, Dear Lord, did I have to be a first born?

Behold, a message to present souls riding the sibling sequence wave. There’s a way you can grab a lot of prizes up for grabs when you go shopping, courtesy of the Changamka Na BB Ushinde promotion. Or, dear last born, if the occasional guest buys any of the participating Blueband packs - 100gms, 250gms, 500gms and the 1kg pack.

It’s very easy:  Scratch the sticker on the pack to reveal a nine (9) digit alpha-numeric code. Send an SMS with the alpha-numeric code to the short-code number 40098. This SMS is absolutely free with participating networks being Safaricom and Airtel.

There are 50 million worth of prizes to be won ranging from shopping vouchers, small kitchen appliances, airtime and bundles. Everyone is a winner with BB!

Beware of fraudsters, though, that may wish to target gullible participants. All winners emerging from daily draws will be notified instantly when they send the SMS with the alpha-numeric code to 40098.

Have a blast winning with Blueband in the Changamka na BB Ushinde promotion.