Why would my ex-husband, who basically treated me badly, start making contact with me/kids (mine)?

I'm not a guy but I can tell you that he's trying to weasel his way into your life again.

If you don't want him then tell him to stop contacting you and block your communication settings.

I'm not a guy either, but I say proceed with caution. You've been on your own now for over half a year, and you don't have kids together, so there is really no reason he should be contacting you at this point. Don't know any other history or why he left, but, due to what's happened (ruining you emotionally and more specifically financially), it sounds like he is still having financial problems, and he is trying to sweet-talk his way back into your life. Don't go there. Change your #'s unless there are reasons for you to still be in contact. Same with your daughter...get her a new # too.

It sounds like he may want to try to get back with you because things are not going well for him since the divorce. There is a small chance that he did learn that he was in the wrong before but the only way to prove that would be to make up the financial loss to you without you mentioning that to him. Not knowing him or the age of your daughter, there is also the chance that he may be a pervert as well so that is something that you do have to consider. If she is old enough to understand you may have to explain to her what the problems were between you and the ex and let her decide whether to talk to him or not because if you just tell her not to, that may cause problems if she liked him as a step father at all. If he does talk to you, just tell him that he ruined you financially and you have moved on and then if he is serious about repairing the marriage he will make that effort I mentioned before to make that up to you. Otherwise, just ignore him.

I'm a woman.. he sees that the grass isn't greener on the other side... dating takes a lot of work and he sees how good he really had it and he misses it

point made, u just said it, he just want to make a connection with you with whatever it takes, to get your attention... keep it this way, he likes you, but not all of you, get it???.... n when hes out messing around, he misses you because he compare the good things of you to the bad thing of whoever hes with at the moment, and he preferred you... hes not a good person, just a selfish bastard, give him no attention since you guys didnt have any connection anyway...

he may just broke yp with another woman and looking for comfort

The only one who can really answer this, is him. Ask him.

he misses what he had, or probably cant get any right now and is feinding for some ...

He didn't marry you to divorce you.

Those reasons to marry are still there.