Urgh...please don't think it's normal for men(smart or otherwise) to even entertain the thought of chickening out and hitting "reset" on their families just because of what a grave responsibility it is to have them.
There's a reason why men bring pictures of their wives/children to put on their desks at work, and that reason isn't separation anxiety. It's because work is the most stressful place for many to be, and being reminded that they will still have their families to go home to at the end of the day is what gives them the strength to go on despite that desire to leave that does, indeed, strike all people(male or female) when we're overwhelmed.
Most stressed people drive around, like you said, in a sort of "symbolic" way(I do that, too, sometimes, and it helps); or else, they find something centering to do, have a heart-to-heart with their spouses, or talk to a trusted advisor...they don't run out on their dependent children(and the recovering mother of those children) at the worst possible time without any sort of warning, and then send a text message after several days before finally returning without even explaining themselves to the authorities who dropped everything on their behalf.
It just hurts to even think about someone choosing to do such a selfish, adolescent thing...I'm alarmed that so many women here seem to both support and defend this man.
He's clearly conflicted, not knowing whether or not he wants to continue forward with his wife, children, and/or chosen career path. As another commenter said, he really should seek counseling - hopefully before he decides to do something more drastic.
It's not typical, healthy, or acceptable behavior...whether he meets the requirements for graduation or not.
