I agree with you that I think his life sounds terrible, but I disagree on a lot of your points.

First of all, they live in Europe, (we don't know where), but many places a car is not necessary. Like if they lived in Manhattan, no one would raise an eyebrow that she didn't drive.

And how can she work with two little kids? Farm them out to nannies? I think she at least is trying to give them a one-parent life, instead of none.

Clingy? Dependent? She's raising two kids by herself! I think that's pretty darned independent!

She buys $300 handbags? Well, what else does she have in her life? HE is the one who has said if he got a job close to home where he didn't have to travel HE would hate it, and make everyone else miserable, too.