Your story reminds me of how Angela Lansbury moved to Ireland for years while her children grew up. She did not want them in Hollywood, New York, or London I suppose. IIRC!
I raised my children in Japan. The oldest was 3 when we went over there, the youngest (born there) had just graduated from elementary school when we got back. She tested two grades ahead in math, so they skipped 7th grade and put her in ESL during math time. She is now an executive with a big pharmaceutical company there.