Gabe - The Entertainer

Bruno and I took Gabe to the mall tonight to buy another pair of Crocs. (since these are the only shoes he will wear) We buckled Gabe into his stroller and hoped for at least 15 minutes of peaceful shopping before any meltdowns. Gabe (who is usually fairly oblivious to other people at the mall) was actually watching other children as we strolled along and paying close attention to everything they were doing. When we stopped to look for his shoes, he wanted out of his stroller. We complied and let him run free for a few minutes (with me running close behind him). There were two other moms in the same shoe section shopping with their children. Gabe saw them and ran right up to the group. He then began to laugh and spin while looking at each of these people in the eyes. He would do a crazy move and then look to see if they were watching him. Somehow, he managed to dance and spin himself into the middle of this group of about 7 people. Everyone just stood around laughing and watching him. I could tell they were unsure of what to think, but were amused by his antics. Gabe even walked straight up to one of the boys and stood right in front of him and placed his hand on the boy's chest. I explained to them that Gabe had Autism and while his behavior was a little odd, this was really a wonderful moment for his father and I. We looked on as our son, who just two months ago would not acknowledge any of these strangers, was now initiating interactions with them and seeking their approval of his zany behavior. He was soooo happy and his smile and laughter were priceless during this miraculous performance!