Those who are saying a mothers love makes it all easier are forgetting one crucial point. Being the mother means you can’t dump the child on the mother’s lap whenever you’ve had enough. While you do have a bit of a break between semesters if you’re in college being a mother is 24/7/52.
As an older sibling I pitched in, sure, but when the going got too tough I could always go to my room, close the door and ignore. When I had my first I was about to say “Okay, here’s the baby. I’m going to sleep” and then realized- wait, I’m the mother. That’s my job.