In the summer of 2012, my daughter, who was fifteen at the time, urged me to take her on a trip to Montauk Point. Having lived her whole life on the opposite side of Long Island, neither of us had explored “The End” before. We had come close on camping trips with her Girl Scout troop, but we had never made it to the easternmost tip, home to a charming lighthouse and a museum. It felt like an adventure we needed to embark on together.
We turned our excursion into a day filled with excitement—picking up a scrumptious breakfast en route, braving torrential downpours, and finally arriving as the skies cleared. The highlight was climbing the lighthouse, exploring the museum, snapping photos, relaxing on the beach, and wandering the area. This trip immediately became significant to us, and we promised each other we would return for the holiday lighting that takes place the weekend after Thanksgiving.
That Thanksgiving was particularly special, as my eldest daughter, Victoria, was coming home from college with her girlfriend, Hannah, who would soon become her fiancée. It would be Hannah’s first holiday spent with our family of six.
I had grand plans for the weekend: the older girls would entertain my three-year-old, Lily, while I prepared the Thanksgiving feast. They would bond and play games with my twelve-year-old son, Oliver, and my youngest, Abigail. We’d enjoy a festive dinner with my in-laws, followed by a movie night. The next day, a trip to Montauk was planned for just me and the girls, and Saturday would be reserved for decorating our Christmas tree, reminiscing about ornaments while sipping hot cocoa and listening to holiday tunes.
Most of the weekend unfolded as planned, but our visit to Montauk didn’t quite match my expectations. The drive took about two and a half hours, and arriving late in the day meant our time at the destination felt brief. The constant requests for bathroom breaks and snacks added extra stress as we raced against time to see the lighting. When we finally arrived, it was bone-chillingly cold, and the biting wind made it challenging to enjoy our time. After catching the lighting and spotting Santa, we decided not to linger long. I struggled to find our car in the dark while Lily fussed about being cold, scared, and lost.
The journey home was eventful. Lily had a cold and was quite particular about her needs. At that moment, I was the only one she wanted to wipe her nose. From the backseat, I heard, “Mom, you g’ wipe my nose?” I tried explaining that I was driving, and she needed one of the older girls to help her. But that was unacceptable. “You g’ wipe my nose?” she repeated incessantly. Finally, after about an hour of this back-and-forth, she relented and let one of the older girls assist her, leading to a flurry of used tissues being tossed at me, making for quite the chaotic drive home.
Once the weekend concluded, I called Victoria to ask about their experience. She said they had an absolutely wonderful time. Curious about Hannah’s thoughts, I asked what stood out to her during the holiday. Her answer surprised me.
It wasn’t the meticulously prepared Thanksgiving meal that balanced both my turkey-loving in-laws and my vegan daughters, nor the enjoyable film night watching “Breaking Dawn,” or even the fun at the playground with Lily. No, Hannah’s favorite moment from the weekend was our trip to Montauk.
“Really?” I inquired, baffled. “The long drive, the short visit, the freezing cold, and Lily’s antics in the car?”
“It was magical,” Victoria replied. The joy came from the car ride, where we sang our favorite Christmas songs, the stunning night with the moon illuminating the water, our perfect arrival as the lighthouse lit up, and Lily’s antics added a layer of hilarity that made it all the more memorable.
As mothers, we often feel the pressure to create holiday magic for our families. However, my Montauk experience taught me that true magic often occurs naturally in the hearts of our children—and their friends. All we need to do is invest time and remain open to the moments that unfold.
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In summary, our family trip to Montauk turned out to be a lesson in embracing the unexpected joys of family time. Moments of laughter and togetherness often become the most cherished memories, reminding us that holiday magic comes from simply being present with our loved ones.