The Age Difference Saga.
One beautiful Saturday afternoon, Auntie Bisola, my mom's colleague came to visit, it was a pleasure to finally meet her as mom has told us so many things about her, coupled with the fact that she sends Kilishi to us through mom whenever she traveled to Abuja.
I and my siblings were in high spirits to finally meet Auntie Bisola we always spoke to on the phone.
Mom had assigned each of us our fair share of house chores that day like she always did, but this one was on a special level, we had to ensure we did it extraordinarily.
By noon, the whole house was sparkling, meals were prepared and then we wore our favorite outfits in anticipation to meet our mom's friend (rich aunty)😄, as soon as we sat down to catch our breath for a while, I turned on the television to watch my favorite show the "KKB show", in a blink of an eye, the channel was changed by my immediate elder sister, with a surprised look I cried out "Ahn, why did you change the channel now?" "It's boring!! I want to listen to music!" She snapped back.
That was when I realized she wasn't a fan of reality shows, I just swallowed my chill pill before she gets upset and sends me on an errand as a way of punishing me for talking back at her. I just sat quietly in the parlor watching the music channel like that even though I wanted to watch the "KKB show"so badly.
In about an hour, we heard a knock on the door, it was Auntie Bisola, My elder sibling quickly informed my mom of her arrival and when I opened the door, she was about 5ft'7 inches tall, slim in stature, and fair in complexion, Auntie Bisola was very cute and then she blessed us with her heavenly smile.
" Good Afternoon Ma," We all chorused, "My darling babies, how are you? I know Amara is the baby of the house, come and sit on my lap," she said as she handed me a bar of chocolate. I was excited as I received it with love.
We all had a beautiful time with Auntie Bisola, and like her ritual, she brought a bag of goodies for us and handed it to my older sibling before leaving.
As soon as she left, I quickly demanded the goody bag be opened "Big sis, let's see what we have in there."
She didn't hesitate to open it as well and guess what? The goody bag contained beautiful outfits (Two Jean jackets, three shorts, two dresses and a ball skirt, three school bags, and three lunch bags) she also gave us some money to share among ourselves.
This was where the trouble started, it was as though my siblings picked the finest things in the bag and gave me the remnant, I felt cheated, and to make matters worse I was given the least amount of money which I thought would be shared equally initially, this made me teary and even angry, I wanted to fight for my right😃😃 at least for once.
"Why have you guys chosen the best items and given me these?" I cried out. "We are older than you are, so we choose first!!" My older sister replied. "And how about the money, why have you given this amount when you all have taken the finest things first?" "Because of the age difference!" My sister was always defensive having a response to every question I asked.
I wasn't satisfied with her response, so I told my mom about it, she told me that, it's only normal for my siblings to pick before I did, "You are the youngest, so you pick last, maybe if I give birth to another one, then you'll have the opportunity to pick before that one, but for now that is the culture, Why did you think Auntie Bisola handed the goody bag to your eldest sibling?" She summarised and left me with a thought-provoking question and so I was so pained but I had no choice.
Now as I got older, though no other sibling came after me, I've had the opportunity to choose first among my younger cousins when things are being shared in the extended family and I realized that truly, age really counts, after all, I came to the world before them, so I should choose before them too. Hehe Age makes a whole lot of difference.
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Those life lessons are challenging for young children, especially because little ones have such a sense of what is right and fair. It's nice that your auntie wasn't aware of the fight among you.
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😀😀😀 Eyaahhh sorry
Being the first daughter myself, I sometimes do this to my younger sister and she also feel the same way you do.
Haha, I am pained but we moveeee.🤭
Thanks for visiting.
See how it feels when you're on the right side of the rule? 😂😂
Now imagine how your younger cousins are feeling
Haha, I can tell, it hits differently when you are on the right side. 😁
Thanks for visiting.
Have mercy on your cousins then
I'm the first born, but I let my four younger ones choose before me, I feel like the senior when ever I do that 😂
#dreemport
Awww, I wish my siblings will do the same😄😄😄😄
Humans for millions of years have had those hierarchies that socially give us a position in the family, in truth, age has a lot to do with the hierarchy scales.
Thanks for sharing.
Good day.
Age does have a lot to do with hierarchy scales.
Thanks for visiting.
It is what it is. I suffered that too in the hands of my elder brother's. But when it came to gifts meant for girls, I would always choose first because I am the first girl. Although sometimes, I pity my sister and allow her sometimes. It's normal Age difference will always matter. But it shouldn't matter in a case like marriage. No matter the age, both partners are one and should treat each other right.😃
It is what it is.😁😆
Power to the older ones!😂
I enjoyed reading this piece..
Thank you for sharing this with us 😊
Haha, thank you for reading friend.
You're welcome 😊
Even in my house, we don't joke with this culture and no younger sibling dares to riot because it'll end in futility. Lol😅
It always ends in futility oo, Justice for the youngest child in every African home oh. Thanks for the visit.
Age does indeed make a lot of difference with these things. It gives the older ones an unfair advantage over the younger ones. I too had to battle with it when I was much younger both at home and other places I went. Now, it doesn't happen that often to me.
Yeah, it doesn't happen that often to me too, but I just reminisced about the good old days, hehe. Thanks for visiting.
Not you opening your eye and craving things bigger than you Amie. As a big sister, it's one of my best times although my elder sister still had the preference. This was really nice to read. I miss having fun aunts like Aunt Bisola. You must have had such a fun childhood.
Now, I hope to be like Aunty Bisola to some kids out there, buying goodies for them and making them feel so loved.
And as the preference things to the eldest in every home, well it is what it is.