The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids - and Come Back Stronger Than Ever

INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER! A paradigm-shifting guide to career breaks after kids that rebrands stay-at-home parenthood for a new generation of women and families. INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER! A paradigm-shifting guide to career breaks after kids that rebrands stay-at-home parenthood for a new generation of women and families. "So, what do you do?" When Neha Ruch had to answer this seemingly innocent question for the first time after leaving her corporate job to care for her infant son, she drew a shameful blank. She couldn't find the words to describe this new stage of life she'd just embarked on. She wasn't a 1950s June Cleaver type, nor was she one of today's updated stereotypes. (Craft Project Mom? Exhausted-in-Sweatpants Mom?) How, then, was she to navigate this identity shift? Frustrated, Ruch embarked on a mission to rebrand the stay-at-home mother for a new generation of women who don't want to leave their ambition behind just because they decide to pause or change their careers post-kids. Her online community has become the leading voice and resource for women navigating this transition, and in her first book, The Power Pause, Ruch addresses all the questions women face at this inflection point- Can I afford to pause? Who am I without my career identity? How do I find meaning in the role? And can I ever transition back to paid work? With expert advice and diverse stories of stay-at-home mothers who buck every stereotype, as well as interactive exercises to help the reader plot a course for the long term, The Power Pause is an essential handbook for a new generation of caregivers.

About the Author :
Neha Ruch is the founder of The Power Pause, the leading platform for ambitious women leaning into family life that is catalyzing a shift in how society views stay-at-home motherhood. Neha lives in Manhattan with her husband, their two children, and their dog Coconut.

Review :
One of Oprah Daily’s 25 Best Self-Help Books for Personal Growth in 2025 “Leaning out. Opting out. Stepping back. . . . Author Neha Ruch calls this period, particularly for working mothers, the “power pause.” She had an M.B.A. from Stanford University and a decade-long career as a brand strategist. When she left her job after the birth of her second child and found herself without her job title, she suddenly felt naked and counted out. . . . She wrote The Power Pause to redefine this transitional period in women’s lives.” —The New York Times "This book is a gift. Gender equality, strong families, and successful economic and social policy all require us to reframe how we think about work and family. The Power Pause helps show us how, in a how-to format that mothers will love." —Ann-Marie Slaughter, CEO of New America and author of Unfinished Business “Neha is a powerful advocate for an underrepresented yet enormous segment of the mom population…They need her voice and encouragement now more than ever.” —Eve Rodsky, New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play "The Power Pause reinforces that there's no one ‘right’ answer, instead giving mothers a more expansive way to think about ambition and family. Neha Ruch provides a clear guide to creating a rich, strategic family life so women can grow and thrive alongside their kids." —Dr. Aliza Pressman, New York Times bestselling author of The 5 Principles of Parenting “In this robust debut, Ruch, a former marketing professional and mother of two, details how women who leave the workforce to raise children can navigate the transition...her sage advice will help those who want to take the plunge. The result is a forthright take on an aspect of motherhood often overlooked by other parenting guides." —Publishers Weekly “By dispelling myth after myth about time away from the traditional workforce, Neha Ruch offers a compelling solution to make careers more sustainable in the middle of a burnout epidemic and childcare crisis. In a culture that has told women for too long that they can’t take their foot off the gas if they want to succeed, The Power Pause presents an original and game-changing way for a new generation to think about career shifts and family life as one part of a long and thriving journey.” —Arianna Huffington, Founder & CEO, Thrive Global “Neha has created a smart way to help women find the words and agency they need in the spaces of motherhood our culture ignores. She is an expert and compassionate community builder." —Lauren Smith Brody, author of The Fifth Trimester “Making women feel like they're alternately neglecting their families by working outside the home (or wasting their potential if they don't) is one of our culture's most insidious tricks: Many, if not most of us, are saddled with the resultant guilt and anxiety, which we then discharge on each other. Ruch offers an essential intervention—a deep breath to unhook from this programming and choose ourselves and each other instead.” —Elise Loehnen, author of On Our Best Behavior “With her sharp intelligence, deep compassion, and clear storytelling, Neha has collected and shared the evidence of what ambition looks like when it’s centered on the home…She has truly changed my life.” —Hitha Palepu, CEO of Rhoshan Pharmaceuticals, author of How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip