KILLEEN, Texas — Some experts say Americans are fighting a child-care crisis. Parents are making major sacrifices to make sure their children have child care amid the pandemic.

Mom of three America Winters-Munoz rushes home from work at the end of the day.

"I get home. I get to say hello to my husband for a few minutes, then we switch off. He either goes to school or work, just depends on the day of the week that it is. Then it's my turn to be mom," said Winters-Munoz.

Winters-Munoz decompresses at the end of her day, sharing a meal and watching TV with her kids.

Winters-Munoz is also a student. She is studying health science. COVID-19 has turned the family's schedule upside down, even impacting how much Winters-Munoz is able to work. Child care is completely left to her and her husband. The kids are not in daycare this year because of the pandemic.

"I've had to take over 30 days of leave in the last year or so, if not more, because of COVID, school. We've been quarantined three different times, so I had to use my own time off as well as my husband had to use his own time off," said Winters-Munoz.

She has no paid time off left. Experts like Diversity and Inclusion Leader Victoria Pelletier say the crisis created by child-care struggles has forced many women to completely step out of the workforce for child care. They predict it could put moms back anywhere from two to 10 years in their career progression.

According to Pelletier, there are ways employers can help.

"Beyond relying on government support across a multitude of areas, what I think we could do from an employer perspective is a number of things. Again, creating a flexible work environment," said Pelletier.

Pelletier shared that work-life balance is hard right now.

"What we're seeing is for these working mothers who bear much more of a load on the home front, is a dramatic rise in stress, anxiety and mental health challenges, 100%," said Pelletier. "So, looking to create much more of a supportive creative environment for our working moms to be able to manage all."

Thankfully, Winters-Munoz has successfully held on to her job.

"My children, they're the strongest motivation that I have," said Winters-Munoz.