Tiffany Mikkelson

May 2024 Issue

by Lesley Kyle
Photography by Janet Powell, Silly Goose photography

Tiffany Mikkelson is an organizer of the next level by necessity.

Born, raised, and schooled in Jackson, Mississippi, Tiffany met her husband, Ryan, in law school at Mississippi College School of Law. As their courtship progressed, Ryan, a Wisconsin native, mentioned he wanted to return to his adopted hometown of Bluffton. The couple established that they were agreeable to moving to Bluffton and founded Mikkelson Law Firm, LLC.

Ryan and Tiffany came from average-size families. Both one of three children, Ryan was the youngest, and Tiffany, the oldest. Due to large age gaps between the kids in each family, Tiffany and Ryan were raised somewhat as only children. Their desire to have a large family progressed as they started having kids of their own. “We knew we wanted several children,” said Tiffany. “I always loved working with kids, beginning with a church preschool summer job. We started with two, three, and four children, and I’ve loved it so much that I haven’t felt strongly about stopping.”

The Mikkelson’s now have seven children. Their first child was followed by a set of twins. Tiffany shared that the twins were quite a challenge, but the fourth child was much easier. She felt that raising children got easier with each one, so decided to try for five. As she approached the age of 40, Tiffany considered that her milestone birthday might be a good time to stop having children. Baby number seven arrived after age 40. “I’ll know when I know,” said Tiffany. The Mikkelson’s now have a senior in high school, the twins who are 14, plus children ages 10, 7, 3, and 9-months; there are five boys and two girls.

Many parents struggle with the demands of a full-time job with just one or two kids. How do the Mikkelson’s successfully manage their demanding personal and professional lives with seven? “I can’t say it’s not a crazy juggling act,” said Tiffany. “It’s certainly not for everyone. But for me, the balance has changed over the years due to different kids with diverse needs and evolving schedules.” During the first week and year of a Mikkelson child’s life, each baby goes to work with Tiffany. “The work routine makes me a better mom—to have the time away, something to put my mind to and feel productive. I then come back to being a mom feeling refreshed. I recognize it’s not for everyone. But the flexibility of having our own business has worked well for the family and me.”

The Mikkelson’s live their lives a little differently than some couples with kids. “We are not the models for date night,” said Tiffany. “But it works for us. We spend a lot of time together in the office. We have conversations and touch points throughout the day, and our time together outside the office is spent together attending our kids’ events, often at a ballpark.” Like many busy moms who work, finding solo time is a challenge. “My few quiet moments are spent in the car alone, but that’s all I need,” said Tiffany. “I so enjoy the company of these wonderful little humans that there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

Tiffany is understandably very proud of her brood. From good grades to athletic achievements, she is most proud of their characters, and the good choices her kids continue to make. “They’re good humans,” said Tiffany. “Just good solid people.” Tiffany affectionately recalls the many trips the family has taken and laughs when contemplating what fellow travelers must think when encountering the Mikkelson’s. A party of nine, they don’t travel light. Envision all the strollers, luggage, car seats, and lots of people staring at such a large family. “We have a big Sprinter van, and it’s an insane amount of stuff,” Tiffany shared. During a recent Easter trip to Disney, their high school senior carried the baby around the park. “We looked ridiculous,” Tiffany laughed. “‘Normal’ outings for many families just look ridiculous for us.”

Having a family with seven kids is not for everyone, but Tiffany maintains that a work/life balance is out there if you look for it. “Find a career or work that’s flexible, even if it requires a shift in your role,” she advised. While in law school, Tiffany dreamed of a career at a big firm. She realized that dream and exceeded the minimum number of required billable hours while raising her first child. Proud of her accomplishments, Tiffany was shocked when her superiors informed her she was expected to do more, and needed to hire someone to raise her children. “I was so offended I decided to find a way to have a career and still be a hands-on mom,” Tiffany said proudly. “I had to adjust my viewpoint, but that did it for me.”