There is a reason people say being a mother is the hardest job in the world: You do not sleep and you do not get vacation time. You do not leave your work on your desk at the end of the day. Your briefcase is your heart, and you are rifling through it constantly. Your office is as wide as the world, and your punch card is measured not in hours but in a lifetime.
The quote emphasizes the exhausting and all-consuming nature of motherhood. Describing it as "the hardest job in the world," it highlights the lack of sleep and vacation, suggesting that a mother's responsibilities are 24/7. Unlike conventional jobs, where one can leave work behind, a mother carries her duties and emotional investment wherever she goes, which adds to the weight of the role.
The metaphor of the heart as a briefcase illustrates that motherhood involves deep emotional commitments that are constantly accessed. A mother's work is depicted as boundless, extending beyond physical locations and measured not by the clock but by the profound impact of a lifetime spent caring for her children. This portrayal underscores the relentless dedication required in the role of a mother.