My neice has met her father like twice since she's been old enough to remember. She's almost 9 now. My sister (her mom) has never really had a long term relationship since my neice has been alive. Her current boyfriend and her have been together for 5 months, but he's been in jail for 3 of those months...
And I can see all that happening in the future. I even see it with how my neice is with me now. I'm "Uncle" and other than her "dad", who because he's not around is perfect in her mind, I'm the coolest guy in the world to her... err, sometimes. I see that need to please in her every time I see her... Actually it's more like a need to impress me.
She's still too young to tell how her relationships with boys/men will be, but I she'll have some issues, definitely. I just pray that she'll be okay though, and try to be the best positive male role model I can be. Shit, I'm the closest thing she's got.