At 11:35 Sunday night I was wide awake, reflecting on the long day.

Our six-year-old son had just fallen asleep after being put back in bed for the fourth time at 11:15.

He wanted to play. He wanted the kittens in his room (we have two now). He wanted to play again. If you’re a parent, you know how it goes.

I suppose the moon was too full for him to sleep. I believe the moon affects our sleep. He had had a full birthday, but I guess he was wanting more. I had no idea the day would be that long.

The birthday boy was up with the sun and off to find his big birthday gift just after dawn. We hid clues around the house that eventually led him back to his room, where we had hidden his Lego Star Wars Tie Fighter under his bed.

He said he already saw it under there but he didn’t let on. He’s a good kid. He has no idea how good, though I tell him often.

He ate his breakfast, homemade blueberry pancakes from his mom.

By the time I was his age, I could make regular pancakes by myself. I had to, or my sister and I wouldn’t eat on weekend mornings.

My son has no idea how fortunate he has it, though I try to remind him often.

I remember in pre-school our teacher went around the room asking what we were going to give our mamas for Mother’s Day.

We didn’t have any money of our own, so I said my sister and I were going to cook Mama breakfast. The teacher gave me a look: “Sure you will,” it said. She had no idea what home was like for us.

The birthday boy wanted to start building his Lego kit right after breakfast. That can take hours, I’ve found. The boy has many Lego kits. They’re mostly Star Wars themed and were gifts from his many relatives.

He does have an idea how fortunate he is in that regard. I tell him at least once a week how he has more toys now than I had my entire childhood.

I realized around ten that he was officially six, since he was born at 9:50 in the morning. They put 10 a.m. as his birth certificate, but I remember.

I had no idea what we were getting into the day he was born, though I was told by many people. I think I’ve started to figure it out now.

At 10:30 it was off to the pool. I insist that no matter where our family lives, there must be somewhere to swim within walking distance.

He has no idea how fortunate he is to have a pool that close. I had to bike about a mile to the city pool, one way. Mama might take us, but she woke up around lunch most weekends.

After the pool, there was lunch, then off to visit family. My great aunt’s sister was in town. Neither of my great aunts or my great uncle had met our six-month-old. I didn’t have any idea how truly important family was until Mama died of cancer five years ago.

We would always be around family in one way or another growing up. Most of Mama’s family lived in town. When I was six, it was lunch after church at Grandmamma’s when the whole family would get together. Grandmamma always had a big spread for those who went to church.

I had no idea how much I would miss the taste of melted butter on white rice. Our six year old likes it.

Butter that has melted in a bowl while sitting in the middle of a gas stove’s four ranges while Grandmamma heats up lunch tastes better than regular butter.

At my great aunt’s we talked about that family and how our six-month-old looks exactly like I did at that age. I have no idea what he’ll end up looking like, but for now, it’s me. His older brother is a good mix of both our families.

We headed home.

Supper passed and then it was time for the nightly chores. They’re usually done by 8:35, I’ve noticed. I had no idea they would take us until ten. Or that our oldest would stay up until 11:30.

I just kept telling him, “You don’t know how late it is—but it’s almost tomorrow—go to sleep.”

He looked out the window, probably expecting to see the sun rising. He had no idea that tomorrow starts at night.

Six years old and he has no idea how far his parents have come to provide a better life than they had.

Our kids will need us a lot until they finally leave the house.

Then not so much, I hope.

But we’ll keep giving them the best we can offer until then and after.

Of that, I’m sure.