We have two DC together, a 6yo and 10 month old. Myself and exP got together very young (17) and had DS together fairly young (will be vague as to not out myself). ExP has had many issues with showing affection, commiting to being a family, not financially supporting us when together and behaviours verging on emotionally abusive.
We were on/off as he would withdraw from me, stopped paying the bills, started stealing from me, would start arguments seemingly just for the fun of it and the last straw came when he stole £50 that was a birthday gift for DS from his great aunt. There was no actual reason for the stealing just seems like he has no boundaries. When found out he pretended he was 'borrowing' it.
Anyway fast forward on and he has made himself 'self employed' works odd hours so only sees the DC twice a week with no overnight stays, doesn't pay a penny in support as he says he has no money and CSA cant trace it as its cash in hand and not declared. He does little in the way of emotional support for me and DC and is really more of a friend to DS who plays on the playstation etc. I am the one doing the school runs, packed lunches, dinners, sleepless nights etc. with no one appreciatin the effort yet DS adores his dad and asks everyday when he will see him next and gets upset every bed time and asks if he can come back to live with us and inside I silently rage because he is so useless but DS puts him on a pedestal but I work so hard to support them both alone and go without and I get the 'I hate you's and the frustration and exP just gets all the good times with him.