When "Daddy" gets mentioned....

My sons sperm donor left when Chris was 18 mths old. I truly believe that my son can remember bits and pieces of his father. He remembers everything else. I left a couple of pictures in his room of his father holding him, so he saw that his father loved him. At least once upon a time.
Lately, my son talks about his father as if they hung out last week, or talked on the phone a few hours ago.
He has used his "daddy" as ammo against me... "My daddy loves me more than you do" or "I want to live with my daddy".
While I know these statements to be completely untrue, it's like a hot knife right through the heart. Every time he mentions his "daddy".
He has also said that he hates that his "daddy" left us. This kid is way too smart.
I'm not one of those bitchy ex-wives that complain and bitch and moan about their babies daddies.
Yes, I hate him for everything he has done to us. I hate him a little more each time my son cries to me about his "daddy". I do my best to not say anything negative around Chris. I don't really talk about him at all. When Chris brings him up, I just let him know that his father had to leave for himself and in no uncertain terms did it mean that his "daddy" doesn't love him.
My stomach turns each time I say it, but he doesn't need to know any different.
I wish I had a better idea of how to handle the whole "daddy" thing. I guess only time will tell me what the right way to handle it is...

For those of you who actually read this, thanks for taking the time to read the ramblings of a very confused mom..
Maybe soon someone will write back, maybe start a conversation....
If not, at least I get it off my own chest, and maybe just one person reads this and knows that she or he are not alone...