Mr. Mike!

Mr. Mike & Nate (a year ago)

Originally uploaded by Dineen.

Mr. Mike is the director of the kids’ school. He’s a former hotelier who decided to open a day care center because he knew from his own experiences as a single dad that competent day care in our area is very hard to find. He seems to have a special place in his heart for Alex and Nate, who have attended his school since the second week it was open. And truth be told, the spot is a tiny bit softer for Nate — Nate is the one with whom he used to play peek-a-boo out of the infant room window when he was supposed to be napping. Nate is the one he fed yogurt to every day for months. They’re buds.

Mr. Mike has been very patiently waiting for the day when Baby Nate addresses him by name. I have been trying to get him to say “Mr. Mike” for weeks now, and every time I tried Nate would just grow a mischievous grin and shake his head no. I think I crushed Mr. Mike when I mentioned that about a week ago, Mike asked Nate “What’s my name?” looking for “Daddy!” as the answer, but Nate said “Mike!”

Today, he finally did it! Nate followed his current routine of asking Mr. Mike for a sticker on the way out the door. I said “say thank you, Mr. Mike!” and he said thank you, and then shook his head no. I prompted again “can you say Mr. Mike?” and he said it as clear as day.

Mr. Mike was thrilled and just glowing.