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(Mail Tribune / Jim Craven) A parent play place: Inner Child Caf� The Inner Child Caf� offers a kid-friendly dining environment where parents can relax with other grown-ups By JOHN DARLING for the Mail Tribune If you're a parent and ever needed to get out of the house for lunch, but tried to take your toddler with you — then you know what stressful means. But what if you discovered a kid-friendly café, crammed with toys, play houses, stuffed animals and food that kids love, like quesadillas, chicken fingers and bagel pizza? "It's wonderful, thank goodness for this," said Elycia Moore of Talent, mother of one-year-old Gabriel. "I couldn't have a conversation if I were anywhere else. I can come here with my mom or a friend and be able to eat and drink, sitting down, not running around chasing my toddler." "We come from Medford just to sit and have conversation. It's the only place you can," said Daniela Frenznick, glancing occasionally at her 13-month-old son, Nathan. "Taking a child to a normal restaurant is stressful and most of the time not worth it." This paradise for parents is called Inner Child Café, at 310 Oak St. in Ashland. In the old Cantwell's Market, it's huge (3,500 square feet) and it's got a climb-on pirate ship, castle and fairy tower that kids play on while you can surf the Internet using their free WiFi connection, sip fresh-ground espresso, tea or a smoothie and enjoy a menu of mostly organic, homemade dishes. Advertisement A mother of two, owner April Starlight knew what it was like to try to give yourself a little treat out with the kids at a restaurant. "It was hell. That environment is not set up for kids — and kids won't conform to our standards," said Starlight. "There's salt and pepper on the table and flowers. We don't have that here." Last winter, staying home with the kids, she realized there was "nothing to do" and the idea of a kid-friendly café came to her. "I'm college-educated and want to talk to other grown-ups. I want to leave the house and go to a comfortable place that would be safe for my kids," she said. "My kids are bearers of chaos. But here, if they can reach it they can have it. We come and be ourselves, be comfortable, have our needs met, socialize, check our e-mail." Her husband Todd Farnbach, who built all the toy sets, said the idea was born because taking toddlers to normal restaurants was a "diabolical" experience, and people believe the old saw that kids should be seen and not heard. Surprisingly, the kid café is also open to anyone without kids, over age 10 — and, after six months in business, is also being used as an unusual getaway by childless adults and business people needing a larger meeting space. Other draws include two computer stations, fresh-roasted coffee beans from a Talent roaster and a menu priced to work for budget-conscious parents. A quesadilla is $3.25, chicken fingers are $3.75, a bagel pizza is $1.75, a grilled cheese sandwich for $2.25, fruit salad with yogurt is $3.95, scones or muffins are $1.50, a kid snack platter is $3.75 and smoothies start at $2.25. Inner Child is branding itself as a parent-minded community center, with clothes swaps, book exchanges, holistic childbirth classes in a side classroom, a French conversation group and occasional live music. It also has a retail shop, with toys, stuffed animals, games and clothing made by local residents. "You get the feeling it's for people like me," said Judith Scott, grandmother of Frenznick. "You have decent tables and chairs and good food, not paper plates, just because you're in a kid place. Going to a regular restaurant, it's embarrassing and stressful with kids, a major nightmare. What's the point?" Adds Ahava Jacobson, parent of two toddlers, "It feels like a party every day. I socialize with almost everyone here. I need that. If I'm home alone all day, well, for thousands of years, it was more community-oriented for mothers — and the kids need to get out and play with other kids, too." John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Trunks, Footlocker Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Discount Hotel Reservations Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Debt Help New Hampshire Primary