KG,

Your situation of financial chicken sounds very familiar to me.

I don't want to be a downer, but I felt worried when I saw this:

"I also don't believe he will become a dead-beat dad. He adores his children and is truly a good father."

I would have staked my life on my STBX providing for his children - whom he always ADORED.
He was a fantastic father.

Now, well, he hasn't paid a cent for months. We don't have enough money for food and essentials. And it doesn't matter to him.

He is truly the anti-H.

Just saying, don't hang your hat on anything to do with how he used to be.

I hope he maintains his character, but please, don't base ANY of your decision-making on the premise that he will.