Jesse and the Big Baby

Jesse LOVES babies. If you don't know that already about him, keep in mind
while reading this story that Jesse adores small humans. He always goes up to
talk to those under the 1 year mark, especially if they are in a stroller which
is closer to eye level for him. I have always figured that babies are
"safe" for him to talk to as they won't talk back and confuse him like
those of us with verbal skills. Babies just smile and giggle accepting Jess for
who he is and what he can do. Since Jesse is so social, he loves takes great
pleasure in interacting with someone who won't demand anything from him that he
may not be able to give at that moment.

That being said. John, Jesse and Josh and I were in Kohl's department store
yesterday buying some new shoes. Kohl's has these shopping carts with strollers
on the front. A woman with two boys about 8 and 10 years old was browsing in
the shoe department near us. The 8 year old was in the stroller on the front of
the woman's shopping cart. He looked rather silly, his huge body squeezed in
this tiny baby carriage but I didn't pay too much attention to him. Out of the
corner of my eye I notice Jesse went over to talk to the boy in the stroller. I
didn't hear what Jesse said but the woman and the boys started laughing so I of
course I asked! The woman giggling said, "He said 'Hi there Little Fella'
and then he tickled him under the chin". We all had quite a good laugh.
Jesse laughed too, knowing he had made a joke even if he didn't know what joke
he had made.

I thought about telling the woman that Jesse had autism and that's why he had
made this strange social error. But I didn't, the woman seemed so good natured
and didn't seem to need an explanation so I didn't give one. I wish more
strangers could be like this with Jess. It was refreshing not to feel like my
son was being judged by a stranger who knows nothing about him. We just shared
the humor and moved on.

When John and I got to the car we just exploded with laughter. Jesse still
enjoying the fun!