I want Emma to take a look at all aspects of her life and make some changes as the way she goes on is not healthy for her or the children. Maybe consider cutting down on work hours could be a start (if you can when teaching that is, or consider supply?) look at all her spends and realise that all the special bits in the world won't help unless you fix how you are inside. Something isn't right in her life and I know we can all say the kids need routine but she needs to get control back and make some changes to benefit them all.
I really think she's miserable because she's just done life how she thinks you're "supposed to"
Find a guy, get a house, get married, have kids.
I don't think she would have ever left John even if she was unhappy because she was following the path of what you're "supposed to" do.
Her parents had been together a long time/from quite young and I'm pretty sure she's just thought she should do the same.
And I really think she thought losing weight would solve all her problems and make her happy.
But it hasn't.
The same with having kids. Which if anything, has made her more unhappy.
The only thing thag seems to make her happy is work