Quote 10
Ma doesn't like Meltedy Spoon but he's my favorite because he's not the same. (1.52)
Once Jack finds himself Outside Room, he is kind of like Meltedy Spoon… he's not the same as anyone else. Although a lot of people like him because of his differences, they also want to make him a part of society. But taking Room out of Jack would be like unmelting the spoon.
Quote 11
I'm learning lots more manners. When something tastes yucky we say it's interesting. (4.739)
Ma has to teach Jack how to behave in "polite society," and a lot of being polite is all in how you word things. It's funny how little tricks like this are passed down from generation to generation. We later learn that Grandma taught Ma this sly way of wording things.
"Some of the women grow long hair like us," I tell Ma, "but the men don't." "Oh, a few do, rock stars. It's not a rule, just a convention." "What's a—?" "A silly habit everyone has." (4.1068-4.1070)
All of Jack's questions make Ma, and us, question society's arbitrary rules and customs. Ma has to strike a balance between letting Jack live the way he wants to live and teaching him to conform to society's rules.