“Olivia won’t brush her teeth,” my daughter Monique said as soon as I answered her phone call. All of our conversations are just that direct.

No opening remarks. No pleasantries. We get right to the point.

“I thought you had jumped that hurdle.”

“I did. I told her that if she didn’t brush her teeth they would all fall out.”

“Don’t you think that’s a drastic message for a 2-year-old?”

“Well, it worked. Then she saw a cartoon about the tooth fairy. Now she wants all of her teeth to fall out so she can put them under her pillow and get money.”

“Tell her that the tooth fairy doesn’t want dirty teeth. She only buys the clean ones.”

It must have worked because Olivia brushes her teeth again.

So why do I bring up Olivia’s dental hygiene? Because it was a phone call that put my activities of that day on pause as I glimpsed into the marvelous mind of a toddler who is attempting to assimilate the information that swirls around her.

I understand.

The month of November was filled with reminders to offer thanks for all we have, yet its end ushers in a season of shopping for all we want.

I’m overwhelmed when I take in too much of the world news, and underwhelmed when I compare my personal goals to actual accomplishments.

It’s the brief, daily interactions of the grandchildren that cause my focus to shift and gives me another reason to live in a state of thanksgiving. And to laugh out loud. May your days overflow with such moments.

Ronny Michel may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.