Each day without a state budget means another day that Diane Mesiarik, Shannon Denitti and Ashley Mancini aren't getting paid for opening up their day care centers to the low-income children they serve.
The three friends, who operate separate family day care centers in their West Newton homes, have become more determined to not let the lack of cash flow break them.
They've been sharing information, ideas and daily walks to help each other weather the financial storm.
"I guess we're just supporting each other and making sure we don't get to the point where we want to give up because we can't give up," said Mesiarik, who has offered day care in her home for the past 15 years.
Day care centers across the state have not been reimbursed since July for accepting children of low-income workers whose care is subsidized by the state. Centers have not received payments for a food reimbursement program.
That means Mesiarik has not been paid for three of the nine children she cares for. Denitti has three full-time children out of 11 who receive state subsidies, while four of Mancini's seven children are paid for that way.
"If it weren't for my husband I'd have had to close my day care because financially I wouldn't be able to operate my day care like this," Denitti said. Her husband is a teacher.
"Financially, it's hurting me," added Mancini. "It is still my job and I love my job and not a lot of people can say that, but it definitely hurts because we can't do the things we normally like to do as a family."
Mesiarik and Denitti, who both receive money through the food program, rely on parents to bring lunches or donate food.
Mancini never received the food subsidy, but she's cut back in other ways. "I can't go out and buy the supplies I usually buy for crafts and that's because I include that in my price," she said.
The three were friends before the budget impasse. Denitti watched Mesiarik's daughter before Mesiarik opened her own day care. And Mancini worked for both of them before she opened her home to kids two years ago.
With all of them in the same situation, they rely on each other for moral support.
They write letters and meet with politicians. They keep each other updated on news. They brainstorm ideas on how to save money. They put signs up letting people know about how the impasse is impacting early childhood education.
Mesiarik and Mancini, who live close to one another, started meeting each morning to take their kids for a walk, giving them a chance to talk and vent.
"It's a lot of moral support more than anything, just saying we can get through this together," Denitti said. "I'm living day to day and hoping (payment) comes here soon — and sooner than what they expect."
They've been encouraging each other, particularly Mancini.
"We don't want to see her close her doors and be kicking herself six months down the road and have to start all over again," Mesiarik said.
Mancini, who attends college at night, applied for state assistance for her family but was denied because her husband earns too much. She can't find a part-time job that would fit her schedule.
Having Mesiarik and Denitti in her corner "means a lot," she said.
"We try to just throw jokes around here and there just to talk about it." Mancini said. "You hear one thing (about the budget) one day and another the next. Now we're just trying to stick it out and do it for our kids. The families depend on us. If we close our door, where are the kids going to go?"