I love that you pointed out the futility in making the bed. One of the greatest gifts my son has given me, is re-thinking the benefit and logic of certain cultural expectations - he has shown me that I'm wasting so much time and effort in my life trying to do things 'just because', when really there are so many other more purposeful things one could be using your time for. I've found that if I expect him to do something 'just because', and it really makes little logical sense, he is unlikely to live up to my expectations and in that there is a lesson - not about his lack of effort - but about my unreasonable expectations.
Simon puts an effort into the things that matter most to him, and while there are times it drives me crazy with frustration when I want him to put an effort into what I THINK matters, and as he matures he needs to gain a certain level of awareness and respect for other people's priorities, I also feel we could all learn a thing or two about setting our own standards, rather than conforming blindly to society's.
