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The Power Pause

How to Plan a Career Break After Kids—and Come Back Stronger Than Ever

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The Power Pause

By: Neha Ruch
Narrated by: Neha Ruch
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About this listen

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, Mother Untitled, has become the leading voice and resource for women navigating this transition. In The Power Pause, Ruch addresses all the questions women face at this inflection point, such as, Can I afford to pause? Who am I without my career indentity? 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 listener plot a course for the long term, The Power Pause is an essential handbook for a new generation of caregivers.

©2025 Neha Ruch (P)2025 Penguin Audio
Career Success Motherhood Motivation & Self-Improvement Parenting & Families Relationships Women in Business

Critic Reviews

One of Oprah Daily’s 25 Best Self-Help Books for Personal Growth in 2025

"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

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The book we’ve always needed

This is the book I needed to hear 3 years ago when I started my career pause. Thank you for making me feel seen, relevant and giving me the words and plan I’ve been searching for!

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A thought provoking guide to how we can redefine motherhood on our own terms

I’ve been counting down for the release of this book. It’s so thought provoking but also full of really practical advice that I’m definitely going to implement. This kind of open-minded, heart-led, research-backed thinking is going to help so many mothers. I’m left feeling inspired and empowered.

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