When Siouxland teens lead busy lives, so do mom and dad

In addition to schoolwork, the North Middle School student regularly participates in dance classes at the 5,6,7,8! Dance Studio when she isn't creating one-of-a-kind earrings for her own home-based business. 

"Sophia is the youngest member of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce," her mom Mickey Nelson said, beaming with pride. "She's also the only person in her class to have their own sales tax permit." 

Sophia's 16-year-old brother Christian Nelson is also very accomplished.

The North High School student is on the Stars golf, bowling and tennis teams. He is also a member of the school's marching band which, recently, hosted the 25th annual Starfest, a competition that attracts the best high school bands across the area.

Both Mickey Nelson and her husband Charlie Nelson were volunteer coordinators for this year's Starfest. In fact, Charlie, still has the calluses to prove it.

"I was in charge of all of the props the band used during Starfest," Charlie, co-owner of Nelson Industrial Construction & Engineering, said with a sigh.

Well, it only makes sense that two very active teenagers would also have parents who were equally as invested in their children's extracurricular lives.

"Busy kids are also kids who stay out of trouble," Charlie offered.

Yet, Mickey said there are a few fringe benefits as well.

"I feel like I've discovered the fountain of youth when I'm around Christian and Sophia and their friends," she explained with a laugh. "That is, until I run out of energy before they do. Then, I realized I'm not as young as I used to be."

Indeed, the Nelsons always encouraged their kids to try new things.

Whether it was Mickey taking their kids to Kindermusik classes at age 2 or Charlie teaching them how to shoot hoops at age 3, both Christian and Sophia enjoyed an active lifestyle.

This came naturally for Charlie, who enjoyed sports and came from a family of high achievers.

However, it was a bit out of character for Mickey, who came to America from her native Panama when she was 12 years old.

"When I was young, my mom wasn't a 'joiner,'" she said. "Mom didn't speak English well and was probably intimidated to be around other people."

Despite that, Mickey excelled in scholastics as well as in music. This exposed her to the moms and dads who were active participants in all of their children's activities.

"As soon as I had kids, I told myself, I wanted to be one of those moms who volunteered for everything," she said. "PTA, afterschool activities, you name it."

Though she enjoyed her career in food sciences, Mickey disliked the travel that came with her work. Once Christian was born, she became a stay-at-home mom.

"That isn't quite true because Mickey isn't home very often," Charlie said with a smile. "She's probably as busy as any of us."

To be fair, Mickey wouldn't have it any other way.

"When the kids were younger, other parents became my support group," she said. "When Christian and Sophia started school, they already had friends due to their outside activities. I had also became friends with those families."

Even though Charlie's engineering and construction firm keeps him busy, he is still just as active in the children's lives as his wife.

According to Mickey, Sophia made have caught the entrepreneurial bug from her dad.

"Sophia started making jewelry when she was 11," Mickey said, "Charlie started his own business when he was roughly the same age."

"I sold sweet corn in front of Taco John's every summer," Charlie said. "I made pretty good money that way."

Sophia's SGN Designs is already a moneymaker. You can purchase her distinctive earrings at Sioux City's Perry Way Bouquet as well as at special events like Le Mars, Iowa's Ice Cream Days.

So far, she's even given presentations for Chamber of Commerce members and other business groups.

Despite that, Sophia knows jewelry making will always be a sideline for her.

"I want to be a physical therapist or a chiropractor when I grow up," she said.

"That may come in handy," Mickey said, teasing her daughter. "As a dancer, Sophia has had her fair share of injuries. She knows a thing or two about physical therapy."

In Christian's case, he wants to go into medical science when he get older.

"I think what moved me to that direction was a chemistry class I was taking," he said. "I thought it was really interesting."

"You see, Christian is serious-minded and very analytical while Sophia is very dramatic and artistic," Mickey said with a chuckle. "If we could split them in half, we'd have some superhuman kids." 

"Actually, I think they're both super kids the way that they are," she allowed.

On the counter of the Nelson's kitchen is a poster Mickey had made for Christian's homecoming dance that was a few days away.

"Nobody asked mom to make it, she just did it," Christian said. "That's OK, because it looks really good."

Looking out of their living room window, Charlie watched Sophia as she tried some tumbling moves on an outdoor trampoline.

"Sophia is really acrobatic," her dad said. "You have to be when you're a dancer."

Both Charlie and Mickey are proud of their two very busy kids.

"I remember when I was a kid," Charlie said. "I was never as busy as those two are."

Mickey nodded in agreement.

"I know what you mean," she said. "If we weren't as much a part of their extracurricular lives, we probably wouldn't see our own children and that would be a shame.

"It's like I said before, spending time with young people is like discovering the fountain of youth," Mickey added. "You get caught up in all of the excitement. Then you get pooped out and realize it is nice to be an adult again."