Nice post Rama and nice to know more about many of you.
I too completed my final year of diploma after marriage, had just attended 2 months but then my lecturers and classmates helped me lot to clear all the institutional requirements like attendance, exam forms, hall tickets, etc. I just studied from home and attended the exam as I was in a different city.
I started my career after 10 years of being a housewife. Once we move out of the house, we definitely need an extended family support, otherwise difficult to manage kids (this is my personal experience). We elders are immersed in our work, committments, etc. so having an extended family nearby gives a lot of moral support for us and the kids too but that should be a harmonious relationship.
Regarding the separation part associated with IPS career, I feel it is SurYa to decide whether they want to pursue this career and the ways to adapt to this style of living. I like Shobhana's FF and Bhabho and Bhabhasa's support to Sandhya much but we can't expect that in DABH for TRP reasons.