I have a 2-year gap on my CV while I was caring for my children. I'm terrified interviewers will judge me for it. What's the best way to address it?
Be honest and brief. "I took time out to care for my family" is a complete, professional answer. Then pivot immediately to what you've done to stay current and why you're excited about this role. Most interviewers will respect it.
I'd actually practise saying it out loud before the interview. When I first tried, I apologised and rambled. Once I'd rehearsed a confident 2-sentence version, I delivered it calmly and the interviewer just nodded and moved on.
Any good employer won't penalise you for it. If they do, that tells you something about their culture. I've come to see it as a filter — the right employer won't even blink.