I like your perspective on giving things time. Many times people are locked into living arrangements through leases or mortgages and separating from abusers becomes complicated to say the least.

Maybe look into child support? Go down to your local probate office, usually there are DOR forms right there. It's a financial responsibility not to be dismissed nor shrugged off. It also takes away the dependency of your needing to ask him directly. It's time consuming. Takes both parents making time and financial contributions, since kids aren't cheap to raise.