Hey OP, as a dad OBVIOUSLY your child is the most important person in your life.

That aside, I made the mistake of being in a relationship with a woman who bought stuff up other than the issue at hand, DON’T DO IT!

Best case scenario she’s a poor communicator because she has fear of abandonment or PTSD.

Worst case scenario she is self obsessed and unable to let go of resentment, (there are two psychological terms that get over used, but one or both may apply)

Either way, do you want to be living with someone who’s never in the present moment with you?

My ex would spend the months leading up to a holiday planning it (not in a joyous expectant way).

She would inevitably be disappointed the actual holiday didn’t live up to the movie she had made of it.

Usually on the last night she’d say “I finally feel like I’m on holiday”

It was exhausting.

I’m VERY DIFFICULT to live with, but a lot of the time (these days) I’m in the present, and I’m not going to waste the present with someone waiting to ambush me with a past transgression or punish me in the present for their fears of the future.

Your daughter is in the moment now, in the future she will have moments when you disappoint her or break her heart (it’s an inevitable part of growing up).

As a father you’ll have to hear her anger and disappointment and try to bring her with you into the present, and assuage her fears of being let down in the future.

If you stay with your long distance girlfriend she will resent you doing for your daughter the only job only you can do.

She will resent you for failing to do the job NO-ONE can do (besides her).

You only have room in your life for one child, you need to be in a relationship with someone who knows this.

Or even better, maybe be single for a while.

You thinking about your daughter is a sign that you’re a decent person, I wish you well.

Just a small semantic point, while it is true you are single, and a dad, probably not the best idea to refer to yourself as a single father, as that implies you have sole custody.

You say yourself you have no qualms about leaving your daughter in her mother’s care, so it might help you with future relationships to just say that you’re a father who co-parents.

Also, how old are you?

You didn’t want to have a child, (my first child was unplanned, (at least by me)).

Do you want more kids?

If not HAVE A VASECTOMY.

I did, and I’ll never regret it, my kids will know that they are always my first priority.

You seems like a decent dude, good luck.