Baby daddy doesn’t pay child support?
Hey ladies, so I need opinions. My daughter is 7 years old and her father and I broke up when I found out I was pregnant. We were living in Montana at the time and he went back to Washington after we broke up. He has always played the “poor me” card and has always had some excuse as to why he cannot get a job and pay child support. He has always worked under the table and made just enough to buy himself what he considers the necessities and has always lived with family or friends or in his vehicle. It’s been 7 years since our daughter was born and in all that time he has never stepped up and done what he needs to do to help support and raise her. Anyway, I recently got a really good job in the same area of Washington that he lives and it is also where most of my family is so my daughter and I moved here. Now he wants to see her all the time and thinks he should be able to take her for weekends, spring break, etc. however I haven’t let him because he has had his drivers licenses suspended for not paying his child support, has a bench warrant out for his arrest for not paying the state back for illegally collected unemployment and has no insurance. My family thinks he’s worthless and doesn’t deserve to have anything to do with my daughter because he’s never stepped up and been a parent. He only sees her when it’s convenient or I’ve taken her to see him for the day or when i make arrangements for him to hangout with us for day. I feel like he wants to play “family” and play Daddy but doesn’t want any of the responsibility of actually being a father. But my daughter likes that she has a daddy and wants to spend time with him. I’m torn though. I get what my family is saying but I also don’t want my daughter to hate me for keeping her away from her dad. I also don’t want to hurt her in the long run by letting him be in and out of her life but never contributing to actually taking care of her. So my question is: should he be allowed to be involved even though he doesn’t contribute physically or financially to taking care of her? Some people tell me no and others say he has a right to be involved in her life even if he doesn’t help out financially. I’m torn and need advice! TIA!
Achieve your health goals from period to parenting.