LADs (Life's Little Administrative Details)

by Laurel Fuqua, RN, MSN, MOM

I got home from work last night and remembered that I forgot to pay the electric bill. Actually, the electric company reminded me by cutting off my electricity! The good news was that I had the money to pay it (I can recall a time when I did not!). I had even written out the check. The bad news was that I carried it around intending to get a stamp to mail it and subsequently it got buried in the entanglement of receipts, lists, business cards, notes and other papers in the bottomless pit of my purse.

As I impatiently waited in the queue on the phone with the electric company, I began to think about all of the crazy little administrative details (LADs) that we have to attend to on a daily, weekly and monthly basis in our lives. To me they are a total waste and I resent having to clutter up my mind and my time with them. Things like paying bills, filing, doing taxes, running errands, stopping to get gas, buying stamps, meeting with accountants, attorneys, getting licenses renewed, filling out forms - I hate them!

I know there are some people who love having to do LADs. I'm sure you know a few. They are easily identifiable. They always pay their bills in advance. Their home is stocked with extra toilet paper and paper towels so they never run out. They have those cute little matching, pastel jogging suits they save just for "running errands". They can't help themselves. The more details they have to deal with the happier they are. Some of them are so into LADs that they have become Laddicts. They would rather do their LADs than read a good book or play with the children or go dancing. They just can't relax until all of their LADs are done. They spend their whole life ladding. A few of the more enterprising Laddicts have even made a living out of making up new LADs.

I believe we single moms have more LADs than any one else. There was a time when I used to say that I needed a "wife". Now, however, I'm convinced that what I really need is a "Laddict" to take care of all of my little administrative details.

Maybe I will place an ad in the personals: "WF fun loving, disorganized, working single mom seeking person (any gender, any race, any age) who is addicted to life's administrative details. Please respond by being sure I pay for this ad."

Laurel Fuqua is the single, 46-year young mom of a six-year old daughter. She is also a writer, Registered Nurse, and healthcare executive. Her hobbies include music, song-writing, and laughing with her daughter.