Part 2: Answers

I hope you found Part 1 of my response to the Q&A exercise informative. Given the hectic schedule of this last week, its been hard to find the time to respond for the 2nd part. In fact, I'm actually writing this while I am in route to Buenos Aires. Jingle is flying the sleigh so I can use my laptop and satellite connection to post my answers to the remaining questions. So here goes...
Q. What can you share about your childhood and up bringing that might make all of us better parents to the children you love so much like we do?

A. I lived with my father and mother near the small village of Drobak. My father was an exiled king. Before I was born, he had ruled a kingdom that stretches across much of what is now Germany. Soon after my mother became pregnant with me, my father's younger brother, who had been the next in line for the throne, conspired with a neighboring king to overthrow my father. Fearing for the life of my mother and me, my father fled to Norway. Though my father remained extremely wealthy, having escaped with much of the family treasures, we lived like paupers so as not to draw attention to ourselves. My mother and father both cared greatly for all the people around them. They were always the first ones to pitch in and help a neighbor. Many times, their 'good deeds' were done anonymously and no one ever knew had come to their aid. They were people of great integrity and nothing but doing the right thing ever entered their thoughts, even when it meant personal sacrifice for themselves. But what I think influenced me most was not any one specific action or behavior, but rather a sense I had.... I knew they would me some freedom but with that freedom came accountability. And I knew that no matter what... even while they were holding me accountable... they would always love me. I knew there was nothing I could do that would cause them not to love me. It was that sense of love and accountability, I believe, that had the greatest influence on me. You can read a little bit more about my mother and father in my 16 December post titled "My First Christmas". And you question has inspired me to include some more stories of my childhood during the off-season.

Q. Why is your coat red and white why not blue and green?

A. This is an interesting question because blue actually is my favorite color. I like the darker & deeper blues. Green, particularly forest greens, also happens to be my second favorite color. And I've been told I look much better in blues & greens given my skin tone and blue eyes. But, I chose red and white for a very simple reason. Remember... Christmas is about the birth of Christ. Red is for the blood Jesus shed for our sins. And white is for the purity of our souls after our sins have been washed a way by His blood.

Q. What is your best advice to parents to keep their babies from being afraid of you?

A. A lot of babies are afraid you are going to leave them with me or that they may have to go somewhere with me. Start with reminding them that you aren't going anywhere... that you will be right there where they can see you the entire time. Also, if you think your baby is going to be afraid of me, offer to come up and visit with me first. You can use that time to let me know you think your baby is going to be scared. I'll tone down my Ho, Ho, Hos a little and try to speak a little softer. That helps. If you have a treat or baby toy your child really likes, you can slip that to me as well and I can then offer it to the baby. And if you ask me, I'm willing to stand up and walk over to where you are holding the baby as well... then we can walk back together to my seat. But all of that advice is for right before you come visit me. I suggest you start a day ahead of time telling them that they are going to see me the next day. Show them one of the Christmas shows with me in it.... that goes a long ways toward them feeling like they know me.
I hope that helps!

Q. What type of music do you listen to?

A. Pretty much everything. I like everything from Nickelback to Trace Adkins to Amy Grant. My Nike+ powersong is Greenday's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams". My favorite Christmas carol is "Silent Night, Holy Night" and my favorite modern Christmas song is "Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer...".

Q. How do you get down the chimney? When you come down the chimny and into are houses isnt that breaking and intering? If so I would be more careful because people have security systems these days.

A. Where the chimneys are large enough for me (and many are; I'm not a big as you might think), I have a special dive that I use. But the most important thing for you to remember is that chimney diving is not for everyone. You have to be very well trained. I have trained for years. You should never try it under any circumstance. So with all that said, the fact of the matter is that there are many houses where the chimney is too small for me. In those cases, I enter through other means. I have several scout teams of elves that go in ahead of me to 1) validate I can fit through the chimney, 2) identify alternate entry paths, 3) disable alarms, 4) confirm that everyone in the house is asleep. With their advance information, I really don't have any problems. Now... to your question about breaking and entering... technically it would be in almost every legal jurisdiction around the world except I have a huge legal team that has negotiated special rights for me that allow me to enter. Those rights are only valid on Christmas Eve. And let's face it, when you leave gifts, people don't complain. Now many cities around the world granted me the rights only if I leave gifts, which is why now in many places I just skip a house rather than leaving coal. Coal doesn't legally qualify as a gift... so I just skip the houses in those jurisdictions completely if the residents are on the naughty list.

Q. Why do you use reindeer instead of horses?

A. Because the reindeer fly. And they fly really fast.

Q. Is Rudolph still alive?

A. Absolutely! He will be leading my team again this Christmas Eve. Keep an eye out on Dec 24th for that glowing red nose!

I think that wraps it up! And just in time, I see the lights of Buenos Aires just ahead. Have a great evening and enjoy this wonderful Christmas season!