MOSES LAKE - Christy Youngers walks up to a baby clothing rack and starts reading price tags aloud.

A lightweight, summertime onesie costs about $5, another is marked $10 and a more expensive winter outfit costs $35.

So what's a new mom experiencing an unplanned pregnancy to do?

Especially a teen mom who may lack the budgeting, work and homemaking skills of an adult?

At a real store, a mom would have to pay money to shop and fit the expense into her budget.

But where Youngers stands, inside Crossroads Resource Center's Boutique, there are donated baby clothes and the rules are different.

Now expectant moms can earn clothing, shoes and blankets during their pregnancies by attending parenting classes.

"When people give you things, I don't think you appreciate it as much as when you earn it," Youngers comments.

But if they participate and work hard in class, they can stock up on some necessities before their child's arrival.

In June, Youngers brought the "Earn While You Learn" parenting program to Crossroads, which was created by Dinah Monahan.

Youngers requires the moms to attend parenting classes to earn "Mommy points."

Using the point system, points are used to buy items from the Boutique. One point represents $1 of "mommy money." They can even save up their points to buy more expensive items, like cribs or car seats.

Moms are required to call and confirm they will attend class, arrive on time and complete class work sheets.

More points are given for finishing class homework.

Youngers thinks the moms will feel better about themselves and have more confidence from the parenting classes.

Required classes cover shaken baby syndrome, postpartum depression, calming a crying baby, child abuse and neglect, nutrition, reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, crying, colic and sleeping.

There has been as many as 30 girls on the waiting list for the classes.

So far, the students have been excited about the classes and are showing up on time.

Although Crossroads is funded by only private donations, Youngers stresses to clients that days of government help could be nearing an end because of budget cuts.

They need to learn how to be self-supporting as quickly as possible by finishing high school and college.

Some household budgeting is also taught at Crossroads. As some of the girls are still living with their parents, Youngers has them sit down with their mom and dad and learn household costs.

After the baby's birth, clients can visit the Boutique once a month for free clothing and diapers until the child is 2 years old.

The clothing is donated by community members.

The moms, whom she calls "girls," are as young as 13 and as old as 40.

"We try to educate them and give them more parenting tools to work with," Youngers said.

Youngers, a mother of two, says she loves working with girls age 16 and under.

She treats them like young adults. They have been responsible and eager to learn, she says.

"They can do this," Youngers said.

Currently there are eight girls in the parenting class, taught by five teachers.

The girls' initial reactions about being a parent include fear.

"They say they're scared about having a baby and being a parent," Youngers says. "When they leave here, they are confident about what to expect."

A Samaritan Healthcare employee teaches infant choking and CPR at Crossroads, which counts for an additional 25 points to use at the Boutique.

The knowledge gained from parenting classes is life-saving, Youngers realizes.

When she was completing her college internship at Child Protective Services, she decided she wanted to educate moms so they don't end up in the system.

She loves working at Crossroads. The parenting classes are where her heart lies, she says.

It is fun to help the girls, be excited for them and help them grow.

At that same time, she points out the expectant moms aren't getting a handout anymore.

"It's not free anymore and you have to work for it," she commented.

For more information about donating or volunteering, call 509-765-4425. Volunteers are always needed to teach classes and help with mailings and fundraisers.