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My aunt passed away and I am out of town helping my uncle survive planning and attending two funerals for her in addition to trying to just get him together. She has been in hospice for a few months and has literally done nothing in the house, had no food (that we could actually eat), 4 months of mail piled on every flat surface, etc.

Yesterday was my first full day here and I busted my ass for 19 hours straight. I responded twice to my kids' texts - I think I tapped out 25 words to them all day.

STBX is bitching because I didn't answer him, yet I found time to answer the kids. Then said he hoped everything is going as well as can be expected.

I've got a reply typed out saying that I answered the kids and no one else. I further explain that no one else is bitching about it because they understand that they are not priority right now. I point out he did not have an emergency.

I feel like I am setting a boundary, but on the other hand I feel like I am engaging/taking bait. I know that if I don't answer him in some way it will just fuel his anger. The kids are the ones with him right now and I do have to go home to him still.

I could just say the kids and my uncle area priorities right now and leave it at that.

Thoughts?

Do not take the bait! Did he ask a question? If he did is it an emergency related to the kids? If not it can wait til you get home. He knows what you are dealing with so crickets.

I would not reply to anything that was not a question about kids or finances, but that is me.

You will be taking the bait if you engage in a lengthy explanation to him on why you cannot reply to him... Which is exactly what he wants from you. More contact.

NO contact is how you draw your boundaries. He will eventually learn that bullying you will not elicit the response he wants and he will stop.

wow, you are one awesome woman dealing with all of this. Either a no response or the one you suggest is fine. He's a POS expecting things from you at this time. What a brilliant person you are.

If you feel you must respond to keep a lid on his temper, keep it as short as possible. Something like "too busy for anyone but kids and uncle". A leave-me-the-fuck- alone text without using those word.

"too busy for anyone but kids and uncle"

^^^This. Then go dark.....

Sorry for your loss and I hope you can help uncle get sorted.
As for him, you are enforcing the boundary by NOT responding to his non-question.