and getting behind on my bills. >> reporter: with the staff shortage worsening, nurturing is now taking 15% fewer students. how long could a family be on the wait list? >> they may be on it for the better part of 2022. >> reporter: across the u.s., roughly 10% of child care programs have closed. others are downsizing. and many parents are seeing prices rise and wait lists go. >> parents, predominantly women, can't go back to work. >> reporter: a recent survey found 84% of parents feel overwhelmed by the cost of child care, and nearly 240 20% have quit a job because of it. the average annual costs nationwide is more than $10,000 per child. for the average couple, that's 10% of their income. for single parents, it's 35%. >> hi, boo-boo. >> reporter: she became a stay-at-home mom when her son was born last year. she was making less than there are 40,000 in seattle.