What is the best way to describe being out of work for 8 years to raise children?

Been there, just done that. The best thing is to be honest and promote what you really did. Put down your part time volunteer work, because it WAS work. You just didn't get paid for it. Put down you were going to school part time. Show them what you were doing that makes you worth it, juggling numerous jobs is multi tasking, volunteer works at school or church shows you work with non-profit etc. I got part time work after being home for 15 years and doing school too, so good luck.

Congratulations on finishing your Master's degree! That's a great achievement. When it comes to sharing during an interview, it's still a fine line to walk. Less is more while focusing on the positive aspects you bring to the table. Truth is, we want to be fully transparent and lay all our cards out - I'm that person! Yet by doing so, we give away information that is illegal for employers to ask of us, thereby opening ourselves up to possible unconscious bias from the hiring manager. If I mention that I left a job to care for my kids/ailing parent and the position requires working into the evening or travel, the hiring manager may wrongly assume I would be available to do that. She may assume my situation would cause issues, even if I have that covered with a nanny or in-home healthcare. Bottom line, our personal lives/information is not their business, especially during the interview. It's better to find a way to address the absence quickly and vaguely without too many specifics. "I stepped away briefly to help a family member and during that time decided to further my education, receiving with my Master's degree this year. This, combined with my experience in Z, has allowed me to develop skills in X and Y. " Or something like that.