He’s going to be 25 in a few days, and I’ve tried for years to get him into a proper routine of getting up earlier and being productive, but he just keeps putting it off. I’ve always told both my kids how important discipline is, especially getting up early and making something of your day, and my son used to be the one I expected to be on it. When he was 22 I was already pushing him to build good habits, but he kept saying he’d sort it “tomorrow” or “next week,” and that never really changed. By the time he was 24, I even got him more set up at home thinking it would push him in the right direction, but the same issue has carried on — the habit just isn’t there. The mornings are the worst part; he doesn’t even set alarms, he’ll just sleep through until well past noon, and by the time he’s actually up half the day’s gone. I’ve told him he’s throwing his future away if he can’t even get up and start the day properly, especially when there are basic house responsibilities that need doing and everyone else is already up and active. He says he’s fine staying up late and getting up whenever, like it doesn’t matter, but in real life it does. I work in a butcher myself, setting up the store early in the morning and getting up at 6am every day, and I come home to find him still in bed. That contrast just makes it even more frustrating, because I’m already up and working while the day’s properly started and he’s still asleep. He’s supposed to be helping out with house work and general things around the home, and that relies on being up and available earlier, not rolling out of bed at midday. I keep ending up having to cover things myself or reshuffle plans because he’s not up in time. When I was younger I was always up early, always active, always thinking about work and getting things done, so it’s frustrating seeing him just sleep half the day away. My eldest has moved out now, and my other kids are organised, so it just stands out even more. My other son in the same house was out of work for a bit, but he couldn’t cope with it and ended up taking a minimum wage job in Boots, which was never what he planned to be doing, but he couldn’t handle being without structure or work. This 24-year-old is still on benefits and he doesn’t really want to work or get into any routine or direction, which makes the contrast even harder to ignore. I’ve already put money and effort into trying to support him getting into a better rhythm, even things like trying to structure his mornings better, but it doesn’t stick because he doesn’t follow through. It’s not even just about house work — it’s basic life stuff, like getting up, being reliable, and not wasting half the day. Even small things like going out for errands or helping out depend on him actually being awake and ready. I keep repeating myself about how important it is to have discipline and structure in life, but I feel like I’m not getting through. I didn’t have to push my other kids in the same way because they just got it. With him, I’m constantly having to remind him, and I’m just getting tired of saying the same things over and over without it changing.