I really would like to hear how other parents deal with lack of effort they observe in their children. I am sure that we are not the only ones with this problem. How do I keep my son challenged? Everything he does comes effortlessly. He can play chess twice a year and comes home from local school chess tournaments with runner-up trophies. He may forget to practice for a test and still gets and �A�, once he got an �A-�. I try to give him more challenging work at home, but still do not see any effort from his part. It is not just academically, the same applies to sports.
I have been the same way and coasted all the way to doctoral program and even now when everyone else in my cohort is close to nervous breakdown and will stay like that until end of this semester, instead of working on my papers, I am typing this post. I know I will be fine.
Why I am concerned? Maybe because I want him to want more, to push himself harder, maybe not to be like me, have bigger dreams. I could make him practice chess daily and take him to rated games to be crushed by kids who actually are serious about chess �to teach him a lesson� But if that is not the route I am willing to go, what other alternatives there are? He is a happy kid, who does everything with ease and no effort. Should I just leave him alone and let him cruise through the life? Why do I feel that I am failing him, that I am not helping him to reach his full potential?
