Having a child allows 'flexibility' in an age of 24/7 demands, she claimed

An author claiming women without children should be allowed to take time off work for a 'me-ternity' leave backed out of an appearance on Good Morning America today after she faced overwhelming criticism over her ideas.

As a magazine editor, Meghann Foye, 38, grew weary of fellow coworkers who left the office at 6pm to spend time with their children, while she was expected to pick up the slack without a valid 'excuse'.

She proposed that women should be given time off to reconsider their life goals and avoid burn-out after she observed new mothers returning to work with a fresh sense of confidence.

GMA host Amy Robach addressed the outrage, bringing in psychiatrist and mother-of-four Dr. Janet Taylor, who said Foye's idea pits mothers against childless women in an unnecessary competition.

Miss Foye (left), came up with the idea after watching colleagues with children disappear on time while childless staff had to work late. The book, a novel, features a 30-something New York media editor who enjoys the 'perks' after she is mistakenly thought to be pregnant

Meghann Foye (left) said that expecting mothers had an unfair advantage and called for women without children to be allowed a sabbatical to focus on their life goals

Foye said it was unfair that expecting mothers got to take a break from work, only to return with a clearer idea of what they wanted in life.

In a NY Post piece titled, 'I want all the perks of maternity leave - without having any kids', Foye wrote having a child seemed to be 'the only path that provided a modicum of flexibility' in an age where people are expected to be on call every minute of the day.

She also argued that tending to a friend who had been 'ghosted' by a date was just as valid a reason to leave work as a parent who needs to pick up their child from school.

On GMA today, anchor Amy Robach announced: 'Meghann was supposed to join us right here live. She has just pulled out of the interview. There has been so much backlash about her comments, viewers across the country [have been] weighing in on this all night long.'

Robach shot back at Foye's arguments, saying maternity leave was 'diabolically opposed' to Foye's ideas of focusing on the self.

Dr. Janet Taylor weighed in, adding: 'There's no question you need 'me-time'. But maternity leave is not a time of play, passion, or reflection. It's a time of you bonding, being sleep deprived..it's all about your child.

'Once again, it pits moms versus non-moms. As women, we don't need that. i think it really minimizes the notion of stress and guilt for working moms. And it undermines the fact that being a mother is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, full-time commitment, and we can’t belittle that.'

Foye failed to appear as scheduled on Good Morning America today. Anchor Amy Robach wrote

GMA host Amy Robach (left) addressed the outrage, and spoke to a psychiatrist and mother Dr. Janet Taylor (center) instead, who said Foye's idea pits mothers against childless women

With only 12per cent of US workers afforded paid family leave, Foye's controversial claims have certainly hit a nerve.

The US remains the only developed country that does not guarantee maternity leave, compared to the UK, which grants 39 weeks for new mothers.

Countries like Germany, Japan and Sweden offer more than a year's worth of paid leave.

Moms across the country have weighed in, slamming Foye for mistaking maternity leave, a time of physical recovery and attachment crucial to the baby's development, for a leisurely vacation.

Amber Hagy wrote on Twitter under the handle @atexlaw: 'Show me a well-rested woman on maternity leave and I'll show you a baby who spent the day with someone else.'

Megan Peterson responded to Foye with a taste of reality, tweeting: 'Sorry, hon, but no #meternity. Actual maternity leave is soaking your stitched-up vagina in the tub. "Me" time? Nope.'

Foye has since responded with a statement publisher Mira Books, clarifying her respect for mothers who do the 'hardest job in the world'.

She said: 'I would never begrudge anyone who decides to start a family and takes maternity leave.

Women around the country were furious that Foye would assume maternity leave was time of leisure, reflection and relaxation. Megan Peterson in particular served Foye a dose of reality

Foye had the support of at least one woman on Twitter. The author has released a statement with her publisher clarifying her support for mothers who have 'the hardest job in the world'

'And I totally get it when moms who return to work need to leave at 6: they have a second job waiting for them when they get home after working all day.

'My concept of meternity is designed to introduce and support the notion that all women deserve the opportunity to take stock and re-examine their goals in order to birth a life that works for them.

'Moms need it, and so do the rest of us who are trying to figure out the work/life balance. More than anything, all women—moms and those who aren't—need to support each other.'

Foye said she came up with the idea after she grew frustrated watching colleagues with children disappear at 6pm while the other members of staff stayed late.

She took a year and a half away from her life as a magazine editor and now has a better understanding of a work-life balance.

Her new novel titled Meternity features a 30-something New York media editor who is mistakenly believed to be pregnant at work.

Rather than correcting her bosses, she keeps up the ruse and enjoys all the 'perks' of her impending motherhood.

The book says: 'As I watched my friends take their real maternity leaves, I saw that spending three months detached from their desks made them much more sure of themselves.

'One friend made the decision to leave her corporate career to create her own business; another decided to switch industries.

'From the outside, it seemed like those few weeks of them shifting their focus to something other than their jobs gave them a whole new lens through which to see their lives'.

Miss Foye believes that if you get pregnant after taking a 'Meternity' break you should still be entitled to normal maternity leave - though employers may have something to say about that.