Cant Win For Losing

Why is it the child always craves the absent parent. The parent that aint doing shit. I dont get it. Yeah I missed my dad when he left but that was because he was their everyday of my adolescence. But my child's father has been in her life a whole 8 and a half months of her life, and not altogehter but spread out over 6 years, and yet she gets ecstaitc when she hears his name. She whines about missing him and wanting to see him. I told her if he wanted to be with her or talk to her then he would put forth effort to do so. He doesnt call, write, or send any kind of support for her. And I dont get why not. I have never called to bug him. I dont rant and rave when he does call. I try to be as civil as I can hoping that maybe one day he will come to his senses and realize he is missing out on a beautiful talented little girl. But now I feel otherwise. I believe deep down in my soul that he will NEVER be a father to her. It was easier when she never knew who he was. But then he decided to come home for a couple of months and spent some time with her and now she is holding on to that. Even though she watched him disrespect me and he wasnt too nice to her either, she still craves her father. And I pray. I pray with everything I have that one day God will send me a loving man that wants to be a husband to me and a father to her. And still I wait.....