After spending almost two decades homeschooling our children, entering this new post-homeschooling season is really such a welcome shift. There’s no need to rush anymore, since I’m really not meeting any deadlines here, and I can finally just savor all the little things happening around me.
The idea of "living slow" felt like a cliché when I was younger—back when we had all the energy and passion to carve out the life we aspired to have as a young family of four. Fast forward to the here and now, it feels like there was a switch that suddenly turned ON. The idea of living slow actually makes my heart sing!
While my husband and I are still in our early 50s and not quite at retirement age yet, our role as parents has noticeably shifted. Our adult children move forward to continue fulfilling their God-given callings—one is pursuing law school and the other is studying chemical engineering. They still need our financial support, of course, but the daily decision-making and academic requirements are entirely up to them now, since they've grown into independent thinkers, real-life problem solvers, capable of self-leadership.
The saying "Just send the money and we’ll make it happen" has become our operative phrase these days, easily. We are still here to support them all the way, of course, but we no longer need to manage their day-to-day lives. I’ve had the privilege of mentoring them all these years, and I'm confident that by God’s grace that they' ll figure it out. So I guess, let’s just say that they are now running on autopilot mode, so adaptable and resilient to life’s challenges. As for me, I just try to stay in my lane.
I am learning to be okay with the fact that I’m not that needed in the same way as before. Somehow, this thought is always coupled with a bit of a guilty feeling—being away from them across the miles. But this conversation in my head lasts only a few seconds because I have that peace and assurance that they will do just fine. Plus, being away means I get to establish a new love nest with my husband! He heads out every day to "hunt for food" and "chop some wood"—if you like—while I get to create our new tiny little flat, our home away from home, our safe space to grow and just focus on US. I am truly enjoying my newfound freedom to be with the man of my dreams.
Coffee Shop Hunting in Khalidiyah
One of those simple pleasures is hunting for sweet little coffee shops around our area in Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi. I love comparing the different aromas of coffee beans and of course, their exorbitant competitive prices. And speaking of prices, though I’m loving Spanish Latte so much that it has become my default order at any given time, I still think that it is overpriced anywhere in the world! Though, on a lighter note, Ghana coffee beans have been my great discovery—it turned out to be verrrryyy delicious!
Bidding Farewell to Big-Batch Cooking
I’m finally bidding farewell to our trusted, family-of-four big-batch cooking! Back then, I used to prepare delicious dishes with the intent of freezing them for the next month or two. I figured back then that once the food department was settled, we could focus on other important things. And it really worked—hence, we were able to travel a lot and do what we did home-educating outside of the home. So to that chapter of massive meal prep: Adieu!!!
Cooking for Two: A Whole New Pattern
Now, cooking for two is a whole new journey. Say, I’d buy 2 kilos of each kind of protein from the supermarket which I transform from ordinary to healthy and delicious:
- 2 kilos of boneless chicken adobo
- 2 kilos of pork adobo flakes
- 2 kilos of boneless chicken curry
- 2 kilos of cubed pork caldereta
- 2 kilos of sautéed minced beef... and the list goes on!
You see, there’s a whole new pattern here! I still cook a lot, but I only do it twice a week or as often as needed but not necessarily 3X a day. It’s so nice being able to focus on simpler, healthier meals for just the two of us. This new rhythm allows me to be more mindful of the quality of the food that we enjoy eating together, ensuring we are both nourished and satisfied without the need for massive batch cooking anymore.
Welcome to Our "Soup Era"!
Speaking of food and cooking for two, my husband and I are currently in our “soup era”! It’s been so wonderful coming up with soup ideas that are both super delicious and nourishing. Lately, I’ve gained a whole new appreciation for simple, everyday ingredients that we usually already have at home.
The real stars on the center stage of my soup-cooking are the humble aromatics: onions, garlic, celery, and ginger, which I’m rediscovering is good for fighting inflammation! The idea is to combine your aromatics with your collagen, fat, and proteins in a manner that is “low and slow”. I repeat, LOW AND SLOW 😊 The ideal temperature would be from 95℃ - 120℃ for at least four hours—or longer if you like. That is why crock pots are my best friends for all seasons.
Most nights, I stick to light soups rich in collagen and aromatics because they are surprisingly filling. But of course, from time to time, we’ll treat ourselves to a nice, creamy soup with some breadsticks or garlic bread on the side.
This soup era has really changed our evening routine, and as a result, my husband and I have never felt better. When I say "at night," we actually eat pretty early, starting around 5:00 in the afternoon, and we don’t eat anything after 6:00. I heard one of my kids say that this is actually called intermittent fasting. So, I guess we discovered intermittent fasting by accident and apparently, it has worked wonders for our aging and aching bodies!
You see, inflammation causes body pains, which is a normal occurrence for people in their 50s when they develop that condition called E-D-A-D Syndrome (if you know, you know!). The relief we felt did not happen overnight, mind you, but with consistency and a little intentionality, we found ourselves feeling light, far less bloated, and finally being able to fall asleep right away without having to count sheep any longer. These are just simple things we do, but they really make us feel so much better. I’m just loving this soup era of ours!