Light Duties
We all want to be good mums and we want to like doing motherhood. The trouble is, it's hard to work out what's good and harder still to be happy about it. This podcast is a long meditation on what Jesus has to say about what's good when we're raising children. It so happens that joy sneaks up on us when we get on with doing it.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 16 minutes
- Episodes
- 97
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
Growing With Teenagers
I've been asked about parenting teenagers, by some people who are anticipating their children soon growing to be teens. This collection of observations is a snapshot of what I've been learning thus f…
Why Do We Have Children's Ministry?
In this episode I start with a brief history of the problem that Sunday Schools were first trying to solve. I then spend time considering how the 17th Century challenges are not the same as ours, whi…
Seeds Buried
This episode features a brief life update as well as an article I wrote at Easter-time, but true for all times. Life is a cycle of deaths, seeds buried. But we believe in resurrection through Jesus C…
You're Invited! A monthly study group
God built certain responsibilities into the parent/child relationship. If you are looking to grow in understanding and doing that role, then you might appreciate the monthly Charlotte Mason study gro…
The Bible's Costly Assumptions About Families
First published August 2024 on the Australian Presbyterian website. For the full text, see the AP site or the Light Duties website. This article explores the disparity between the sentiments of the 2…
Think-Aloud Chat: Children's Books
Following the How to Fill the Time episode, I've received questions about what kinds of children's books to read. Here is a response, to help you filter out many of the options and point you to some…
"Bringing Forth Life" Book Review
Jodie McIver is the Christian friend every expectant mum needs, especially in Australia. She understands the Bible, she understands midwifery and she understands the great variety of experiences face…
The Necessary Desperation {bonus}
When we’ve been invested in giving good and restraining harm for our kids, the situations that bring them low can be bitter to us. But we and our children need these pains, lest we miss the best of c…
God Will Not Do What We Imagine {bonus}
Our work in mothering is not going to achieve all that we imagine. Why bother when we don't know which way the ball will bounce? This episode is about the comfort we can count on.
#54. Stretched, Strained, Sustained
How can these maternal duties be called "light" when they are so weighty in importance and difficulty?
Q&A: How to Fill the Time?
A listener has asked, "What good things can I fill my time and the kids' time with before starting formal schooling?". This response was recorded while I was out and about (so it sounds a bit raw). I…
#53. Ruined, Recycled, Restored
Perhaps we find motherhood difficult because we haven’t given much thought to building a house? The thing is, we're all building from ruins, salvaging and restoring what we can. We have ideals, but n…
Affection Follows Attention
In this think-aloud chat, we consider how our most basic form of treasure is our attention. And where our treasure is, there our heart will follow. Some thoughts on how we might come to love things w…
Abundance and Loss in Motherhood
Sometimes God's generosity exhausts us. When the good gifts generate more work, we often treat them like a curse. This episode is about recognising the abundance we've had put in our hands so we can …
Evangelism Think-Aloud Chat
Perhaps telling people about Jesus while we're caring for our children isn't as complicated as we make it? Some reflections from a couple of decades (while I clean and repair books).
#52. Two Ways to Ruin Motherhood
The great terror of motherhood is that we’d ruin it. This dread causes some mothers to do less: the less we do, the less we can fail. The same dread causes others to grip tighter and work harder: the…
Christmas Greetings Uncut
I could NOT let Christmas come without saying something. But such is the sweltering pace of things around here that I am talking on the run, complete with the creaking of doors, thrum of traffic and …
#51. Obedience is More Fun
We don't have to trick kids into obedience. And we mustn't neglect climbing trees.
A life of obedience isn’t a legalistic life. Obedience training is not a constant drill of facts and instruction. It…
What if it Doesn't Work Out Well?
What if our children grow up to squander the good gifts we have tried to give them? If it doesn’t end up achieving all we hope for, would faithful Christian motherhood be a waste of time? This is a t…
Q&A1
This is the first episode answering a few questions lately received. Ranging from preparing for the teen years; parenting books I wish I had read at the start of my time as a mum; suggestions for Bib…