- A photo of a 1-year-old baby making a "help" signal while visiting Santa at the mall is going viral.
- Mom Kerry Spencer recently tweeted an old photo of her now 13-year-old son, Samuel Spencer, when he visited Santa at a mall in Provo, Utah.
- The funny photo has gone from a family joke to being retweeted over 7,000 times at the time of this post.
- The baby's sign language isn't exactly correct, but the mother said it was what he always used to signal for "help."
When most kids visit Santa at the mall, they ask for the presents they've been wanting all year.
Others, like Samuel Spencer, ask for something a little different.
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
Samuel's mom, Kerry Spencer, posted an old photo of her son during a visit with Santa at the Provo Town Center Mall in Provo, Utah, when he was 1 year old.
According to his mom, Samuel was asking for "help" in sign language in the photo, which has recently gone viral.
"Poor buddy didn't love Santa very much, ever really," Kerry told "Today."
"So we didn't try to get him to go much after that."
Kerry taught both of her children American Sign Language from an early age so she would be able to communicate with them while they were babies.
She was off to the side as the picture was being taken, so she had no idea Samuel was a little uneasy with his Santa visit until she actually saw the photo.
As is the case with most babies, Samuel's signing technique wasn't exactly correct, which Kerry pointed out herself on Twitter.
Here's the actual sign. So no one is confused. 😂 pic.twitter.com/np2tOkWgqY
— Kerry Spencer (@Swilua) December 8, 2017
But she told "Today" that "it is the sign he always made when he needed help."
While Samuel looks a little distressed in the photo, their family is still able to see the humor in it.
"We all laugh at the photo now," she said. "Posting it is one of our favorite family traditions."
Twitter users have retweeted the picture over 7,000 times at the time of this post.
Oh what a sweet boy but that is hysterical !
— Missy (@MichelleDelNigr) December 7, 2017
This is the best Santa picture ever and would be on my wall year round 😂😂😂
— 🖤🦄Zombie Unicorn🧟♀️🖤 (@chronicfinders) December 10, 2017
This. Is. The. Best.
— Lady Prince (@MormCd) December 5, 2017
Genuinely just spluttered tea across my desk at this. Thank you for sharing!
— Carrie (@cazbabyblu) December 6, 2017
This will be my Christmas card for all ,sooooooo funny 😂😂#SCARYSANTA😭🎅
— Jimmy Barfield (@Davinciboy1) December 12, 2017
Samuel is now 13, and still isn't a huge fan of the man with the bag.
"Both of my children find the idea of Santa sort of sketch!" Kerry told "Today."
"They say, 'It's just not normal for one man to know so much!'"
INSIDER has reached out to Kerry Spencer for comment.
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