Yes, non-parents “deserve” maternity leave — we could all use a break for “self-reflection”

Ain’t no hate read like the one by the spoiled, entitled, childless woman hate read, AM I RIGHT? Case in point: The currently blowing up on the New York Post feature by author Meghann Foye with the napalm-grade title 
 “I want all the perks of maternity leave — without having any kids.” 

Foye is the author of a new novel called “grow and develop as humans and professionals.” Last year, my spouse, after several years with his company, earned four paid weeks off to use as he saw fit. The contemporary American work model — one that is so relentless and all consuming that an adult professional woman writer might in all sincerity publish an op-ed that suggests time off to have a baby is some kind “break” — is wildly disordered. People need time off for all kinds of reasons and no, Foye’s “My best friend just got ghosted by her OkCupid date and needs a margarita” scenario is not equivalent to my 36 hours of labor. But the idea that time off — for any variety of personal reasons — makes us sharper and more focused and better is a totally valid one. It’s not selfish. It’s just makes sense.