On mommy. Maybe he could sense that she was OK, even happy (she married the guy that bought her from Watto). Maybe he figured he'd wait till he was a full-on independent Jedi before coming home to impress mom.
On JarJar. That's what happens when you elect a total idiot. He ends up giving the keys to the kingdom away. Besides, JarJar was a war hero, and his people possibly represent half the population of Naboo.
On Jedi cluefulness. It was mentioned that with Sith lords, there can be only 2, master and apprentice (apparently to keep them all from killing each other). It was also mentioned, in episodes I and II, that prophecy says that Anakin is the one that will bring balance to the force. I almost immediately interpreted that to be "he will kill all but 2 of the Jedi and turn to the dark side, becoming one of the 2 Sith". Yoda and his toadies seem to be oblivious to this interpretation, or are living in denial. Of course we know that he becomes Darth Vader, but still.