The viral photograph speaks volumes. What this child wants for Christmas, is to get off Santa's lap.
Kerry Spencer shared the photo of her son on Santa's lap on Twitter with the caption, "We taught our baby sign language. This is the sign for 'help.' You're welcome."
The photo has received over 6,000 retweets and more than 25,000 likes.
We taught our baby sign language. This is the sign for "help." You're welcome. pic.twitter.com/i6NkxBf4KP
— Kerry Spencer (@Swilua) December 5, 2017
Spencer says that the photo was taken several years ago at the Provo Town Center Mall in Provo, Utah. Her son, Samuel Spencer, who was one at the time, is 13 now.
I happen to be the baby in this photo. You may direct all likes and follows to me now. https://t.co/oA5kvSZrcO
— That one baby that doesnt like Santa (@DextrousWolf) December 6, 2017
Spencer says she posts the image on Facebook annually as a holiday tradition, but this was the first year she tweeted the image, causing it to go viral.
"I was standing to the side when the pic was taken and actually didn't see that he was signing for help until I saw the photo," Spencer told ABC Action News. "It's ASL baby sign, so he is slightly 'mispronouncing' the word (strictly speaking, thumb should be up not sideways; babies learning to sign often mispronounce words) but it is the sign he always made when he needed help."
Here's the actual sign for comparison: pic.twitter.com/WTu2FPTl7O
— Kerry Spencer (@Swilua) December 8, 2017
"Poor buddy didn't love Santa very much, ever really. So we didn't try to get him to go much after that," Spencer said.
Mary Stringini is a digital reporter for ABC Action News. Follow her on Twitter @MaryWFTS.