Neha Ruch chose to take an indefinite pause from work after having her second child. She immediately faced raised eyebrows and unsolicited advice. She didn’t bat an eye at her choice. But the reactions got her thinking: why are we riding on outdated stereotypes about moms choosing to exit the workforce to take care of their family for a chapter of their lives? Enter: Mother Untitled, the leading platform dedicated to ambitious women choosing to lean into family life – without shame. Today, Neha shares tips from her new book The Power Pause to help listeners pull it off like pro. 

In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Neha shares: 

• The importance of her gap year in India and what it did for her self-trust


• Why she couldn’t find the peace and purpose at work that she got from motherhood


• How stay-at-home-motherhood has been wrongfully labeled as a “luxury”


• The percentage of women who stop working because of high childcare costs 


• Financial levers couples can pull to make room in the budget for a future pause 

Neha’s Instagram: @motheruntitled

Neha’s book: The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids – and Come Back Stronger Than Ever

Carly and Danielle’s Instagram: @carlyanddanielle 

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