There is no spotlight that shines as brightly as the one I call “Pre-Conceived Ideas” when it comes to your children and parenting.

Habits, patterns, beliefs — long held ideals — are all suddenly front and center — to be challenged.

And not always in a pleasant way, I might add.

Today, though, I couldn’t help but laugh, as I was rummaging around our shelves, on the hunt for bread that I swore we had and wouldn’t a perfectly good spot for it be right behind this Oreo-bread House?

All you moms out there know what I’m talking about — the mindless stashing of items when putting groceries away as to keep the toddlers at bay. Also : I never have liked gingerbread. What a brilliant idea to do Oreo instead.

This is to say that here lies a wannabe Gingerbread house that is a good six weeks old.

I bought it, not because I liked it or wanted to make this holiday house, but because it’s what I thought a “good” mom should do.

It’s what I thought would be a “good” holiday tradition. What “good” families do.

The only thing that matters, People : do what you like. Do and buy what interests you.

Gingerbread — correction — Oreo — houses are not my thing. They never will be. I need not feel bad about this. It doesn’t make me less of a mom.

It didn’t make my children have less of a holiday. It wasn’t even on their radar.

The hardest thing you’ll ever do : is simply being yourself.