By Candy Jeralds

My bondage began almost seven years ago after my second child was born. My husband and I discovered that would cost about $14.25 per week for me to continue working. (Looking back, I realize that this price was more than fair!) Thus, I began my career as a stay at home mom.

I now have three children. My oldest daughter, Lauren, is almost eleven years old. As her bond servant, I am required to perform miracles ranging from making her stick-straight hair into a mass of glowing curls to producing an elusive Furby at a time when only members of royalty can find them. Her first command each morning is for me to locate a specific pair of bell-bottom jeans. She wears them everyday but somehow manages to lose them while she is sleeping.

The second warden on the list is Melissa, who will soon be seven. Melissa has been a demanding master since the day we first met. She required diaper changes until she was almost four years old because she couldn’t be bothered with all of this toilet nonsense. As a first grader, she has quite a lot of homework projects for me to complete. For some reason, her teachers never send home solo assignments. She knows how to tie her shoes but figures there is no point in both of us having to do it. So this is one of the more frequent demands I get from her.

My keeper for most of the day is Kelsey. She is three years old and by far the most assertive in the group. Each day I must make sure her cookie plate is never empty while we watch hour after hour of Teletubbies, (a punishment in it’s own right). She also insist that I accompany her on various outings designed for people in her position of power; i.e. McDonald’s Playland, the park, Toys R Us, ect.

For the most part, my imprisonment is not all that bad. I do get to watch television and daily make-up is a thing of the past. My jailers, while trying sometimes, can be really sweet and loving. The work is hard, but the time goes by quickly. I guess that not a good thing since I’ve been sentenced to life.