This article stunned me as it feels so one sided. I expected a happy read but it turned so dark so fast. I know it is written from the author's perspective but it feels like it focuses heavily on the author's wants and how prioritising those made her happy. As a kid who had a mum like this, this is not a parable of guidance here for me but a cautionary tale. Of course choosing what we want exclusively will always make one happy in life but what did the other people in the story desire? That is the concern. The narrative is written as though it was a success story overall but really can it be if only one person gets their happy ending within a family unit and the rest suffer? The father lost precious time with their kids that he deserved just as much as she did. I imagine the kids will be traumatised for life in a way that no beach playing will ever make up for. Maybe as I have a mum who blew up all our lives in this sort of way (and took us miles away) it triggered me. Just from the point of view of the kids I would expect serious questions when they are old enough. I do feel that a whole family should be prioritised in decision making about where the kids live and never too far away, including father and kids. What did they all want? I'm sure the kids would not say to leave dad to live far away and rarely see him. No kids want that unless the dad is abusive, in which case, fine. Even in separation a beach versus Daddy and the latter wins. This just feels like the mum chose every step of the way and got her aussie happy ending but the kids and father did not. Nor did any relatives who will miss the kids after losing their son back in London. Feels so sad.