It's time for one of Mary Kalogirou Melzack's five children to grow up and leave the nest.

Melzack, a late-in-life mother, and her husband Brian were focusing on starting their own family when love for their growing brood inspired her to give birth to WeePlay & Learn, an interactive children's play center, that she affectionately refers to as her “;fifth child.”;

The adoption of David, now 7, and Arianna, now 6, was the original inspiration for WeePlay, which Melzack launched from her husband Brian's Bestsellers Books & Music store in the Koko Marina Center. By responding to her family's changing needs as a household with young children, Melzack created a retail concept that could appeal to a broader demographic than their independent bookstore chain. The concept rapidly grew along with the Melzack family. Since opening WeePlay in 2004, the couple added two biological daughters Georgina, 26 months, and Constandina, 9 months, to their family and they are not adverse to adding more.

“;Motherhood changes the dynamics of your life and your reason for being,”; Melzack said. “;I've channeled a lot of that love and the skills that I have learned from raising my children into the business.”;

Membership at WeePlay grew as the business helped the couple create a specialty niche that positioned the Bestsellers store so it could compete with chains like Barnes & Noble and Borders Books & Music for space in neighborhood shopping markets. Despite its success, WeePlay was forced to temporarily close last year after the couple and the Hawaii Kai mall owners were unable to agree on new leasing terms.

“;We lost more than half-a-million dollars,”; Melzack said. “;I was devastated at the time, but in reality it turned out to be a blessing. We're back and we're bigger than ever.”;

Fittingly, Melzack reopened WeePlay on Labor Day in the old Hawaiian Telcom space at the more centrally located Ward Warehouse. With the change in location, Melzack has effectively tripled her space, allowing her to expand the concept to offer play and exercise time for parents, too.

“;With four children of my own, I know how difficult it can be to find time for yourself,”; Melzack said. “;I also know that parents won't take time for themselves unless they feel that their children are well-cared for. All parents, myself included, want the same thing for their children - we all want the best.”;

That's why WeePlay now offers adult pilates yoga (piyo) and turbo kick classes three times a week for parents.

Blasi Jacobi, the turbo kick and piyo instructor at WeePlay, said it's rewarding for her to help other moms get back in shape.

“;A lot of times, moms feel guilty about taking time to get in shape and they put that last, but it's so important to do it for themselves and to set an example for their children,”; Jacobi said. “;Child obesity rates are very high and we have to reduce them by teaching our children how to live fit lives.”;

  WeePlay takes all the excuses away, Jacobi said. While the parents work out, little ones have the opportunity for safe, supervised play in a learning rich environment. Later, parent and child can learn and play together in WeePlay's free play area or at one of their specialty classes.

“;Really, what we are trying to do is teach the parents how to teach the child,”; Melzack said. “;Parents are the best teachers for their children.”;

WeePlay memberships range from $79 a month for one day of play per week to $129 a month for daily access to the center. WeePlay parents pay $69 monthly for access to three exercise classes per week. In addition, for additional fees, WeePlay parents can take advantage of daily drop-in child care and Saturday night care.

The variety of options at WeePlay have enticed Makiki mom Amy Kraber to accompany her 6-month-old daughter Evelyn to WeePlay four days a week.

“;I take turbo kick and she goes to the baby class at noon,”; Kraber said. “;I honestly don't remember what I did before WeePlay.”;

Time at WeePlay helped cure a mild bout of postpartum depression, Kraber said.

“;Before WeePlay, we used to go to Ala Moana and just walk around. Evelyn is so fair-skinned that we can't spend a lot of time outdoors,”; she said. “;WeePlay gave us something active to do together.”;

Jennifer Truncale of Waimanalo first saw the magic of WeePlay in action at its former Hawaii Kai location.

“;I used to bring a little boy there that I watched,”; Truncale said. “;He was adopted and needed to be around other kids to get his energy out. I saw how good it was for him emotionally and physically.”;

Truncale was so impressed with WeePlay that she now brings her own daughter, 7-month-old Mia, to the Ward Warehouse location.

“;I started coming here a week after they opened,”; Truncale said, adding that she is just as delighted with the adult programs as she is with the children's offerings.

Truncale takes both the turbo kick and the piyo classes three times a week. While she's at exercise class, Mia is cared for by WeePlay staff members.

“;When I come in to get her, she's usually giggling,”; Truncale said. “;It helps that they are all experienced mothers, too.”;

  Between classes, Truncale breastfeeds her baby and then after class the two attend a WeePlay parent-child class together.

“;I believe that a healthy mom is a happy mom,”; Truncale said. “;For nine months, you give everything to producing a healthy beautiful baby. Afterwards, it's really important to get your core back so that you can feel good and feel good about yourself.”;

WeePlay has given Melzack her center back, too. Melzack always has been a formidable entrepreneur. At 19, she opened her first retail store, Lady II, which was similar to Merle Norman in Toronto, and grew it to a five-store chain. After she sold the chain, Mary made a second career in high-end retail shopping center development, developing Hazel- ton Lanes in downtown Toronto.

  “;In 1995 when I was at the peak of my career in shopping center leasing and development, there was no doubt in my mind that I would never have children or be married,”; Melzack said. “;I enjoyed what I did, but I wouldn't go back to it today.”;

Melzack and her husband arrived in Hawaii in 1995 after he sold his Toronto interests in his bookstore chain. Since he had a five-year no-compete agreement, the couple decided to work on having a family; however, at first, they found themselves unable to have the children that they so desperately wanted.

“;After spending all of my life on a career, you can't imagine the emotional upheaval of realizing that I might never be able to have a child,”; Melzack said.

After months of trying, the couple were finally blessed by the adoption of their eldest child David, who was the catalyst for the WeePlay concept.

When he arrived, the love came pouring out, becoming the foundation for Melzack's most recent business enterprise.

“;I went from thinking that I would not be able to have children to realizing that I have hundreds,”; Melzack said.

“;I think of every one of the children who come through this center as another one of my children.”;