Soup Season: Finding Comfort (and Community) When Sick Season Strikes
Back to School, Back to Soup
There’s a certain shift that happens every year as summer draws to a close. Even if you don’t have kids, you can feel it: the air gets a little crisper, the days a little shorter, and suddenly the stores are full of back-to-school displays and pumpkin spice everything. There’s a buzz in the neighborhood—school buses rumbling by, parents juggling new routines, and social media feeds filling up with first-day photos and proud smiles (and, let’s be honest, a few teary eyes).
For so many, this season is about fresh starts, new notebooks, and the comforting chaos of getting back into the swing of things. But for me, the start of the school year has always signaled something else: the return of sick season.
Now, we don’t have kids (yet), but I swear I can feel the germs in the air as soon as that first bell rings. Maybe it’s the collective energy of everyone gathering indoors again, or maybe it’s just my own body’s history, but I’ve always been the one to catch every bug making the rounds. It’s honestly a little frustrating—for me, and for everyone around me. I’m the one sniffling on the couch while the world keeps spinning, missing out on adventures, plans, and sometimes even the simple joy of feeling good in my own skin.
The Reality of a Sensitive Immune System
If you’re reading this and nodding along, trust me: I see you. Having a sensitive immune system is like being the canary in the coal mine for every new virus. It doesn’t matter how careful I am—vitamins, hand washing, all the “immune-boosting” teas in the world—if there’s something going around, I’m probably going to get it.
I can’t tell you how many times a cold or a flu has hit right when I needed to be at my best. During a move, a big work project, or even just when I’d planned a rare weekend of fun, I’d find myself curled up under a blanket, frustrated and a little defeated.
And then there was this past PCS season. If you’re a military spouse, you know the drill: pack up your life, say goodbye (again), and set off for a new place with a mix of hope and exhaustion. This time, within three weeks of arriving at our new home, I caught COVID. There’s nothing quite like coughing and freezing on an air mattress in a completely empty house—no boxes, because our shipment of household goods hadn’t arrived yet. No couch, no kitchen comforts, not even a real pillow—just the echo of your own footsteps in bare rooms, and the hum of uncertainty.
Those first nights were some of the loneliest and most uncomfortable I’ve ever had. But here’s the thing about military life—and, honestly, about life in general: you learn to adapt. You learn to find comfort wherever you can, and you lean on your community, even if it’s brand new. I was lucky enough to have friends who already lived in the area, and they showed up for me in ways I’ll never forget. They brought me groceries, a real pillow, and a little bit of hope when I needed it most.
The Need for Comfort Food (and Rituals)
When you’re sick, everything feels a little harder. The world gets smaller, your energy disappears, and even the simplest things—like making dinner—can feel impossible. Over the years, I’ve learned that the answer isn’t always to push harder or pretend I’m not struggling. Sometimes, the best thing I can do is slow down, listen to my body, and create small rituals of comfort.
For me, that starts in the kitchen. There’s something grounding about chopping vegetables, stirring a pot of soup, and filling the house with the gentle aroma of leeks and potatoes. When I feel that first tickle in my throat, I reach for my softest blanket, my favorite mug, and start prepping my go-to comfort meal: potato leek soup.
This isn’t just food—it’s a ritual. It’s how I remind myself that even when I’m feeling run-down, I can still create moments of care and coziness. It’s a way of reclaiming a little bit of control and reminding myself that I deserve to feel nourished, even on my hardest days.
Why Potato Leek (or Green Onion!) Soup?
You might be wondering: why potato leek soup? Honestly, it’s a recipe I stumbled into during one of our many moves. I was far from home, missing my family, and craving something that felt familiar. I remembered my grandma always saying that potatoes could “fill you up and warm you up,” and leeks—well, they’re just fancy onions, right? Turns out, this combination is pure magic.
But sometimes, you just can’t find leeks, no matter how many stores you check. This week, when I sent my husband out for leeks, nowhere in town had them! So, we picked up green onions instead. That’s the beauty of comfort food: it adapts to you, not the other way around.
Potato leek (or green onion!) soup is gentle on the stomach, easy to make, and endlessly adaptable. The green onions bring a gentle, oniony flavor and a hint of freshness, the potatoes create a creamy base (even if you leave it chunky!), and a little garlic adds just enough warmth to make you feel like you’re fighting off whatever’s trying to take you down. Plus, it’s the kind of meal that tastes even better the next day, after the flavors have had a chance to meld.
Nutritionally, it’s a win: potatoes for energy, onions and garlic for vitamins and immune support, and bone broth for hydration and nourishment. But more than that, it’s a bowl full of comfort—a reminder that even when you’re far from family or feeling vulnerable, you can create a little home for yourself.
The Recipe: Potato (Masher!) Green Onion Soup
Here’s the recipe I turn to every time sick season rolls around. It’s simple, forgiving, and absolutely soul-soothing—and best of all, you can make it work with what you actually have on hand. This week is a perfect example: no leeks in town, so we grabbed green onions; no blender, so we’re using a potato masher. That’s real life, and honestly, it’s part of the comfort.
One thing I’ve really learned, especially through military life and all the moves, is the importance of starting with what’s already in your kitchen—and sometimes, making do with what’s available in town.
I already had red potatoes, purple onions, and chicken bone broth. All I needed my husband to pick up was a bulb of garlic (for immune support and flavor), a packet of yeast (for the bread—more on that in another post!), a small bunch of chives (for garnish), and green onions to replace the leeks. Everything else was already waiting to become something cozy and nourishing.
Ingredients:
2 bunches green onions (white and light green parts), sliced
1 medium purple (red) onion, chopped
2 tbsp butter or olive oil
3–4 medium red potatoes, diced (skin on or off)
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups chicken bone broth
Salt & pepper, to taste
Optional: 1 bay leaf, a few sprigs fresh thyme
Optional: ½ cup milk or cream (add at the end for extra creaminess)
Chives, for garnish
Instructions:
Prep green onions: Slice the white and light green parts (save the dark green tops for garnish, if you like).
Sauté: In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add green onions and purple onion. Cook until soft (about 5–6 minutes). Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
Simmer: Add potatoes, bone broth, bay leaf, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer until potatoes are tender (15–20 minutes).
Mash or Not! Remove bay leaf and thyme. If you like it chunky, serve as is. If you want it thicker, use a potato masher to mash the soup right in the pot until it’s as smooth or rustic as you like. Stir well to combine.
Finish: Stir in milk or cream if using. Warm gently—don’t let it boil after adding milk. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Serve: Ladle into bowls and top with chives and extra green onion tops if desired.
Pro tip: This soup keeps beautifully in the fridge for a few days. It also freezes well—just leave out the cream until you reheat.
What I love most about this recipe is its flexibility. It’s not about having the “right” ingredients or the fanciest equipment—it’s about making the most of what you have, and letting your kitchen (and your community) fill in the gaps. Sometimes, all you need is a little help with the last few things—like asking your partner to grab garlic, yeast, chives, and green onions on the way home, and sometimes, you just need a potato masher and a little creativity.
The Power of Ritual: Warm Milk with Honey & Vanilla
Soup is wonderful on its own, but if you want to make this meal feel extra special, pair it with a mug of warm milk with honey and vanilla. This is my secret weapon—what my grandma used to make for me when I was little and couldn’t sleep. Just a cup of milk (dairy or non-dairy), warmed gently with a spoonful of honey and a splash of vanilla. Pour it into your favorite mug, sprinkle a little cinnamon on top, and sip slowly. It’s like a hug from the inside out.
Warm Milk with Honey & Vanilla:
1 cup milk
1–2 teaspoons honey
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract (your homemade vanilla is perfect!)
Pinch of cinnamon (optional)
Gently heat milk until steaming, not boiling.
Stir in honey and vanilla until dissolved.
Pour into a mug, sprinkle with cinnamon, and enjoy.
How Did It Turn Out?
Honestly, this is the best soup I’ve ever had—so creamy and flavorful, even with all the swaps and improvising. My husband called it “savory” and gave it a 7 out of 10, but only because he wants to keep experimenting with the recipe to make it even better next time! That’s the fun of home cooking: every batch is a little different, and every bowl is a new adventure.
Adapting When You’re Far from Home
Military life means learning to create comfort wherever you are. Sometimes that means making soup in a kitchen you barely recognize, or improvising with green onions and a potato masher when that’s what you’ve got. It means leaning on friends—old and new—when you’re at your most vulnerable.
During this last PCS, when COVID knocked me flat before I’d even unpacked, it was my friends who saved me. They brought groceries, a real pillow, and a sense of belonging that made all the difference. That’s the power of community, and it’s something I try to pay forward in every bowl of soup I share, every story I tell, and every doll I make for Wondering.Waves.
Community & Invitation
I know I’m not alone in dreading sick season. Whether you’re sending kids back to school, juggling work and family, or just trying to keep yourself healthy, these months can feel overwhelming. But they can also be an opportunity to slow down, create new rituals, and connect with others.
What’s your go-to comfort food when you’re under the weather? Do you have a meal or a ritual that brings you back to center when everything feels out of control? I’d love to hear your stories—drop them in the comments, send me a message, or tag @wondering.waves on Instagram or Facebook. Let’s build a community of care, one bowl of soup at a time.
Closing Reflection & Gentle Encouragement
Sick season isn’t easy, especially for those of us with sensitive immune systems or who are far from home. But there’s power in creating comfort, in finding joy in small rituals, and in leaning on each other when we need it most.
Whether you’re curled up on an air mattress in a new city, wrangling kids through the first week of school, or just trying to make it through the day, I hope this soup brings you a little warmth and a reminder that you’re not alone.
Here’s to resilience, rest, and the simple magic of a homemade meal.
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