#and wonder if they'd hate Lullaby Lane Library too

[alastgoodnight]

Once again, the mysterious children's program Lullaby Lane Library has stirred controversy among parent groups, this time by broaching the topic of mental illness.

Children's show host "Miss Naomi" has always been slightly atypical in her presentation. While her tame yet whimsical attire and recurring props are familiar fare for kids' programming, her calm manner and eccentric mannerisms have caused certain groups of parents worry in the past.

All of that came to a head this week, when one of these eccentricities became the focus point of an episode. Miss Naomi is never seen outside without her signature umbrella overhead. In this week's episode, during mail time, she answered a viewer's question about why she does it with surprising candor.

Speaking in the simple, gentle terms she is known for, Miss Naomi explained that she had agoraphobia, "a fear of big open spaces that makes me dizzy and shaky", as she put it. She went on to explain how she felt safer indoors, and even if she knows outside is safe, that doesn't make the fear go away.

"Sometimes, the part of my head that's afraid gets so scared that it tries to run away. But there's nowhere for it to go, so it gets confused, and I get dizzy. If I'm not careful, I might even fall down. It's very scary."

She then explained how the umbrella acted as a disability aid.

"The umbrella is kind of like a roof over my head. The part of my head that's afraid of outside sees it and goes oh, I'm inside, I'm safe. Because it doesn't get scared, I don't get shaky and dizzy, because it doesn't try to make me want to go inside. Since it thinks I'm already there, I can be out with everyone."

"What's important," she went on to explain, "is that my friends understand this, and always make sure I remember to bring my umbrella outside. Good friends look out for each other, and help meet each other's needs. I might never be able to go outside without my umbrella, so I'm very lucky to have friends that understand and want to help me."

While many parents have complained that this discussion might enable "unnecessary coddling", others have praised the show for its non-judgemental portrayal of mental illness and disability aides. Some parents report that their children have tried to become more attentive towards their peers as a result of this episode.

As always, Miss Naomi herself could not be reached for comment.