Written by Barelin and edited by Megansdad

My heart raced as I, Hayley Lane, and the other mothers, Anima Hubbard and Elena Vargas, stood with Julian Harrington in the crowded courtroom. We ladies flanked together as the mothers to Julian’s six children. The weight of responsibility and the tension in the room were palpable. Julian, nervously fidgeting with his tattered shirt sleeves, looked worn out; burdened by the years of struggle and hardship he had endured to meet his child support obligations to support our three households and his own.

Over the years, life had dealt unexpected cards to Julian, leaving him with the overwhelming responsibility of financially supporting his children, despite not being actively involved in their lives due to his working hours. He worked and toiled, trying to make enough money to satisfy the hefty child support payments demanded by the court. As a result, he had little time for rest or self-care, and the stress etched lines on his face.

The judge, a stern and astute figure, gazed at the four of us with understanding and empathy. He knew we were all entangled in the complex web of circumstances that needed resolution. The court had to find a way to alleviate the financial burden on Julian while ensuring the well-being of the children.

“It is clear to the court that Julian is working tirelessly to fulfill his child support obligations,” the judge began, his voice echoing through the courtroom. “However, the current situation is not sustainable. We must find alternative ways to reduce the financial strain.”

An air of anticipation hung in the room as we waited for the judge’s ruling. Julian’s future, our future, and our children’s were all at stake. The judge paused, contemplating an unconventional idea to provide relief for Julian.

“In light of Julian’s dedication to supporting his children, I order a unique condition applied to the four of you,” he declared solemnly.

Curiosity mixed with concern, prompting Elena to ask, “What is it, Your Honor?”

The judge’s voice remained firm as he revealed his unprecedented ruling. “Starting immediately, Julian and each of the mothers will be registered as strict permanude’s until the youngest child reaches adulthood.”

Gasps and murmurs filled the courtroom, including our own. Strict permanude was a term we had never encountered before, especially not in a legal context. It meant that we, along with Julian, were required to surrender all our clothing, except for safety equipment and protective clothing required for work that doesn’t conceal the body. Permanude laws include the loss of business attire. No form of textiles can be worn except for transparent protective clothing required to perform work duties for the duration until the youngest child came of age.

The courtroom fell silent again, the weight of the ruling settling upon us like an uncomfortable shroud. Each of us is stripped of our privacy, exposed to the world, and vulnerable for years to come. It was a humiliating and emotionally charged prospect for all of us.

“This measure will significantly reduce the cost of clothing for all parties involved,” the judge continued, maintaining his professional demeanor. “It will also serve as a constant reminder of the sacrifices made by each parent for the sake of their children.”

As the judge’s words sank in, shock and embarrassment coursed through my veins. I exchanged glances with the others, and we could see the same emotions mirrored in each other’s eyes. This ruling meant bearing our bodies and souls and sharing our sacrifices.

As the courtroom emptied, Julian and the three of us huddled together to discuss the implications of the ruling. We knew our lives would change in ways we could not yet fathom. Uncertainty loomed before us, and the road ahead seemed daunting.

However, amidst the unease, there was a glimmer of determination in each of our eyes. We had to set aside our discomfort and unite for the sake of our combined children. Reading over the stick permanude decree was combined with working out other ways to ease the financial burden on Julian. Provide some stability for our combined families to think of unconventional paths.

As we removed our clothes in the courtroom, the weight of the permanude decree settled on us like an unshakable truth. Julian, Anima, Elena, and I stood there, vulnerable and exposed, shedding our clothes and the barriers that had separated us until now.

The judge’s ruling brought us all together in an unexpected way. Now stripped bare, literally and figuratively, we realized the need for transparency. We all agreed to live under the same roof, sharing the responsibility of raising our children and facing the world as strict permanude. That will require an unprecedented level of openness and trust.

We moved into a spacious house that could accommodate children ranging from preschool to teenagers, five bedrooms to split between them to be comfortable. Adults agreed on the estate with two enormous master bedrooms to share with two king-size beds each. We agreed to combine our homes, but we will also merge our relationship to be one. Understand that we needed to foster an environment of understanding and support.

Our initial interactions were awkward as each of us navigated each other, as we navigated the uncharted waters of this unconventional family setup. There were moments of discomfort and hesitancy, but we were determined to make this arrangement work for the sake of our children.

On evenings when the children were asleep, we gathered in the living room, wrapped in each other’s arms to shield ourselves from the chilly nights, and engaged in heartfelt conversations. We shared our pasts, our dreams, and our struggles. Our individual stories unfolded like fragile petals, revealing the hardships and challenges that life had thrown our way.

As the days turned into weeks, something extraordinary began to happen. Our vulnerability and openness forged a bond that surpassed any initial discomfort. We became a tight-knit support system for one another, offering advice, lending a helping hand, and celebrating each other’s successes. It wasn’t just a shared relationship with Julian. Love to share or between any one of us. Transparency, we learned to appreciate and understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses. We acknowledged that we were imperfect and that life had dealt us different cards, but together, strong.

We also involved the children in this journey of unity and understanding. We explained the situation to them in age-appropriate ways, ensuring they knew that this arrangement was born out of love for them. They had questions, fears, and doubts, but as we answered honestly, their young minds began to grasp the concept of family in its unconventional yet beautiful form.

Some people couldn’t understand our decision to live together, while others questioned the permanude ruling. It wasn’t an easy road, and we knew it would be a constant challenge to rise above the stares and whispers. However, we also discovered a network of supportive friends and family who embraced our choice and admired our commitment to putting the children’s well-being first. These friends became our pillars of strength, reminding us that love and family came in many forms.

Living together as permanude was undoubtedly a unique journey, filled with highs and lows, laughter and tears, but it was also a transformative experience. It taught us to embrace vulnerability, to communicate openly, and to cherish the bonds that held us together.

As the first six months passed, we watched our children grow and thrive in this unconventional family unit. They had the love and care of their biological parents but the support and guidance of three more adults who loved them unconditionally.

Looking back, I realized that the permanude ruling, as unconventional as it seemed, had been a blessing in disguise. It forced us to confront our insecurities, be honest with ourselves and each other, and create a unique family built on trust and love.

The dynamics had shifted significantly during this time. Julian had cut down on his working hours, as he was now only supporting one home instead of four separate ones. The five parents live together as a single family as Harrington. We have shared the joys and challenges of raising our children collectively.

We no longer saw ourselves as nude and fully embraced the lifestyle. All of us now work for some period outside of the house. Julian’s various employers were ok with him working nude. Mandated by the courts, none of us ladies’ employers require us to any work clothes either. With this newfound unity, we approached the judge with a shared request. I spoke for the family since we all now live together, and the mandated child support is no longer needed. Our financial burdens had lightened, and we no longer needed the support we did before.

The judge listened carefully to our plea, nodding as we presented our case. The judge said, “Considering the circumstances and the fact that you all are now functioning as a cohesive unit, I find the request to cancel child support payments reasonable.”

We sighed with relief, grateful that our collective efforts were being acknowledged and validated. The judge’s ruling meant that we could continue providing for our children without the added financial strain that had previously weighed us down.

However, there was one judgment that brought all of us to this point, and was another matter to address. “Do you wish to have the permanude ruling lifted?” the judge inquired, his gaze shifting between us.

There was a moment of contemplative silence. All four of us exchanged glances, silently communicating our thoughts and emotions. The judge’s query was unexpected and required us to reassess our feelings about the unique lifestyle we had embraced.

Finally, in unison, we shook our heads. “No,” we replied firmly.

The judge appeared taken aback by our unanimous response. He paused for a moment, seemingly processing our answer. Then he cleared his throat and spoke with a tone of gravity, “Under the civil law of this state, you are considered a unit—a single family that provides for and supports the well-being of your children.”

He continued, “However, under the permanude statute of the state’s lifestyle department, if you all wish to continue being permanude it will be transferred to your combined children after they reach the age of fourteen years. Per the Permanude lifestyle and its legal implications, the status of being a Permanude family shall extend to all youth over the age of fourteen until they reach the age of eighteen or complete their education and reside within the household until graduation. For any youth born after the initial registration of the parents, the status of Permanude shall apply from birth.