The term “staying at home” parent never reasoned with Neha ruch. “The first time I had to use that phrase to describe myself, it just didn’t fit,” she tells PS. After realizing the language felt outdated and limiting, she created another term that felt more on the brand. Enter: “Power Pause.”
Ruch, the founder and CEO of Mom untitledCoined the term as a way to update the stigma around what a parent who is at home looks. When she describes it, a power break is a deliberate interruption from the labor force, often to prioritize childcare needs at home. But unlike the traditional view, a break of power comes with the intention of returning to work in which capacity looks to you.
With Increase in childcare costs And parents who want to spend more time with their children are becoming more and more popular – especially for women. According to one American mothers in break study Fields of evidence insights are one of three working mothers “something, very or extremely likely to leave their jobs to stay home-parenting over the next two years.”
Rather than seeing one Career break As a step back, however, many people in a power break see it as a strategic decision: it is an opportunity to be more present for their children while allowing space to rethink goals and return to work later with less stress and Burnout. But even if power pauses has its advantages, it will not without any risk.
Before deciding whether a power pause is the right feature for your family, Ruch explains everything to know about this movement and why it becomes so popular for working mothers.
Experts displayed in this article
Neha movement Is an expert on parenting, women, work and identity. She is the CEO and founder of Mom untitledA platform that helps ambitious women to lean into family life, and even the author of “Power Pause: How to plan a career break after the kids – and come back stronger than ever. “
What is a power break?
A break of power is a “life phase where a parent deliberately shifts his time, focus and energy away from his career and towards his children and households,” writes Ruch in his book, “Power break. “During a break of power, the parent can then find clarity on what they want to strive for in the future when their children have reached a certain age. Whether it goes back to work or explore a new business company, the purpose of the break of power is to” come out stronger – more yourself – on the other side. ”
The reasons why people can choose to take a power break vary. According to the American mothers in the break study, 83 percent wanted to spend more time with their children, 77 percent wanted to be more accessible to see their children’s milestones, and 62 percent said childcare was too expensive.
Although how much time is spent entirely up to the individual, Ruch says it is common to see someone take a break for two to five years – usually when children are younger and less independent. That said, they can happen at any time. “This is a chapter in the long game and life, and there are huge amounts of dignity in it,” says Ruch.
What are the benefits of a power break?
One of the most obvious benefits of a break of power is that it enables more time with a child or child. Of course, it allows parents to be more present for milestones – both large and small – but it also helps them to strengthen emotional contacts with their children.
Another advantage is that there is less stress in the home. “The household can go smoother, more efficient and more calm,” says Ruch. “When a parent shifts his relationship to be able to do more of the intellectual and emotional work in the home, the partner works based on the home benefits.” And really, whether Power Pater Paus allows you to take care of your child’s specific needs, manage the family calendar or keep the laundry to go more efficiently, benefits the whole house.
With the increase in childcare costs, a break of power can also help financially. By staying at home, a parent can compensate daycare While you still have the opportunity to return to work later.
What are the risks of taking a break?
The most common reason why people may not want to take a break is because they are worried that it will hurt their career when returning. Some women have also reported that they lost part of their identity when they took a break to focus on childcare.
“This is a chapter in the long game and life, and there are huge amounts of dignity in it.”
That is why Ruch says it is important to think about it as a break – not something that must be forever. “I encourage women as they move away from their traditional work to remember that these skills and these experiences are not evaporated or just disappearing,” she says. While for your power break, you can develop even more skills or qualities that can help you in your career when you decide to return.
Another disadvantage may be thinking that you are not as important or successful at home, but Ruch says you have to redefine how you see success. After all, the person who takes a break contributes to the household as much as the person working outside the home does. Even if they do not receive income, they save money, handle general household responsibility and take care of children. “Much of it is about knowing that you are still ambitious, still modern, and you can still be successful,” says Ruch – even if it looks different than before.
Although you can save money by taking a break of power, finances can also be a risk. Ruch recommends that you have money calls with your partner to make sure you can make it work financially. “Discuss how you value money, how you budget for this and how you will value each other’s contributions,” she adds.
Is a power break right for you?
It may be, but this is not the right choice for every family. For this reason, Ruch says it is important to assess all your options before choosing to pursue a break. If you love your career but also want less stress in your home or more time with your children, she encourages you to see if there is a way to get it in the role you already have. For example, you can ask about part -time or remove opportunities at your current place of employment. You can also decide that you do not want so much management responsibility, which can release a time in your calendar.
If you feel burnt out and would take advantage of a break, a power break may be the right move for you. But first, consider asking for a sabbatical or looking at other jobs that can give you a little more flexibility and less stress than your current job.
If in the end you decide not to powor break, know that you do not make your children a bear by working from home. “As long as children feel loved and secure by their health care provider,” says Ruch, “it doesn’t matter if you work from home or at home.”
And if you decide a power break, it is most meaningful to your family dynamics, then you will be intentional about what goals you want to achieve during this time. Why? Because the time you spend from work can make you “really powerful” when you return, Ruch says.
At the end of the day, Ruch says that a power break is not just about raising your children, but about raising yourself too: “When you are not moving through the daily work of your traditional work, you can actually study yourself about what lights you up, what piques your interest and what conversations inspire you.”
Taylor Andrews (She/her) is Balance Editor on PS, specializing in subjects relating to sex, relationships, dating, sexual health, mental health, travel and more. With seven years of editorial experience, Taylor has a strong background in content creation and story. Before she came to PS 2021, she worked at Cosmopolitan.
