What to do when your family hates your ex?

[femina_lala]

I need advice bad! My family hates my son's father. I'll admit, I hated him for the past 2 years, we had a rocky relationship from the start, and then we had a baby. He had a drinking problem and couldn't hold a job. He took off for about two years and now he is with someone new. We are going through a custody battle and my famiy hates him. I want to try and make things work again, but is this crazy? I know that he still has feelings for me too. He lives about 2 hours away with his gf now though. I want him to be able to prove himself to me, our son, and my family, but how? I am willing to try counsling or anything. Any ideas? Could this actually work?