Theresa Duncan

Theresa Duncan
25 POSTS 9 COMMENTS
Theresa is a recovering fake adult and is now proudly a child who refuses to grow up. She spent a decade developing and facilitating enrichment programs for at-risk youth. Through this work, she saw firsthand the power of play in the growth of emotionally, physically and mentally healthy children. The pressure of pretending to be an adult finally became too much, so in 2014 she and her father Todd (also NOT a grown-up) opened Villa Villekulla Neighborhood Toy Store on Amelia Island. Her two children, Adrian and Francine, often exhibit more maturity than she does and are, therefore, the ones in charge both at home and at Villa Villekulla. When she isn’t playing with toys, learning about toys, or talking about toys, she enjoys dance parties and listening to live music with her husband.
shoplifting

Where’d Your Kid Get All That New Stuff?

I was recently having a conversation with a close friend who told me about her 13-year-old daughter’s new friend who is "so kind and generous." "Every time they go out she buys her things....
play with kids

‘I Don’t Play With My Kids’ Is Not A Flex, It’s Neglect

The person who made sure I saw this viral TikTok knew it was going to trigger me. I’m pretty passionate about how important play is, and this video with 1.1 million views is a...
family game night

Making the Case for Family Game Night

Does your family do a regular game night? I know my family is a little different — we’ve got an overload of toys and most of them are not put away. My house is...
dress-up

Let’s All Play Dress Up Year-Round

Lately, this meme has been showing up in my feed: People are always complaining teens are “too old” for trick-or-treating. Let me tell you. If your kid shows up at my door trying to...

On The Road: Jax to St. Louis

Maybe, like me, the only thing you know about St. Louis is the iconic Gateway Arch, but there’s more to the city! Sure, it’s not making any top 10 lists of honeymoon destinations, but...
alone

I Love You, Now Leave Me Alone.

I might hide it well, what with all the dance parties, goofy videos, local TV appearances, and public-facing job, but I am in introvert. Unless you're my close friend, you might never even know...
amelia island

Live Like A Local: Fernandina Beach & Amelia Island

Located northeast of Jacksonville, Amelia Island is the northernmost barrier island in Florida. This is a special place filled with stories and adventures. From maritime forests with ancient oaks dripping with Spanish moss to...
nuuly

Love My Outfit? Thanks, It’s Not Mine!

I love fashion, but fashion doesn’t love me. I get an unreasonable amount of anxiety when invited to any place that requires that I put on something other than athletic wear. It’s not that...
high school senior

‘Having Some Adventures’ Is My High School Senior’s Life Plan

I know I’m not the only mom who bursts into tears every time I watch the "Surface Pressure" scene in Encanto. It’s all too relatable, right? Luisa sings, “I'm pretty sure I'm worthless if...
gifts

Gifts, Please

Hey Mom, when was the last time you were invited to celebrate one of your friend's birthdays, and the invite said "no gifts"? I, personally, have never seen an adult party invite like that,...
girl scouts

Everything I Needed To Know About Life I Learned From The Girl Scouts

When Juliette Gordon Lowe registered the Girl Scouts’ first 18 members on March 12, 1912, it was before women even had the right to vote. But she had a vision to build an organization...
toy safety

You’ll Put An Eye Out, Kid

“You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!” In A Christmas Story, most of the adults knew that a Red Ryder BB Gun was going to put Ralphie in danger. His dad bought him one anyway,...