I tell this story every December. This year is no different.

When my son was about 3 or 4, he was behaving badly one day. Stomping and throwing a hissy fit, and not listening to anybody.

Back then, we didn't have a weather channel that told you your local temp. We had a phone

number we could call, that told you the time and temperature, day and night. It was an automated message. Very high tech for the time. lol

Well, my son & I were going another round as I was calling that number. When he came down the hall, I pretended that I was talking to Santa.

Long after the recording was finished, I was saying things like, "Yes, I know, Santa. I told him, but he's just not listening." At this point, my son began to stomp his feet, wanting to talk to Santa.
Me: "yes, yes, okay Santa. I'll tell him. Thank you Santa"

My son: bouncing from one foot to the other: I WANT TO TALK TO HIM! I WANT TO TALK TO HIM!
I told him that Santa really really has to go and is busy, but to hurry up and tell Santa goodbye and that you'll be good and you love him.

So, I put the phone to his cheek, and my son

begins to say what I told him to. Then goes, "uh huh .. uh huh ... yeah ... uh huh ... okay ... I'm sorry ... okay Santa I love you bye bye" and runs down the hall to his room.
I lift the phone back up and say "hello?" and I hear talking in the background.

That was the day that

I found out that the Time & Temp number went to the fire dept. and if you don't hang up, it automatically goes to their PA emergency line. So, the whole time I was talking to Santa, I was on the PA system at the fire dept. & when I told my son to hurry and say bye to

Santa, one of the firemen grabbed up the phone and played Santa for him. Not only was my son totally convinced Santa was 100% real & behaved for weeks, but I was a hero for having his private phone number.