A difficult one, this. I was a trailing spouse, a Swiss in the UK, with a OH's career taking every hour of the day (and night, and week-ends, and Christmases, etc)- and yes, I did resent it at times. Being 'stuck' at home having to bring up the kids more or less on my own- pots and pans, and neighbours like Stepford wives. I quietly counted the days, and years and months- and seized the first opportunity to make MY move. I went to Uni (in a foreign language) when our youngest started school - bl*****y hard work, but so exciting, and I never looked back. Nine years as a trailing wife was my max.

What did your friend do when the kids started school?