Barb received a lot of heat following After the Final Rose when she aired her concerns that Peter and runner up Madison Prewettwere not compatible.
“Everybody has been really, really positive and that’s so welcomed that they see me that night on the show as a loving mom,” Barb says about fans’ reactions. “That’s all I was — just being a mom that loves my son with all my heart. I have two boys, and I love them both with all my heart and I will always be there for them.”
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Courtesy Kelley Flanagan/Instagram
Weber-Approved
“She is [so] much fun! We have a very good time together,” Barb gushes about Kelley. “We definitely laugh a lot and do a lot of chit-chatting … it’s great to have her around! She’s a joy!”
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Courtesy Kelley Flanagan/Instagram
A Match Made in Heaven
The former leading man and tax attorney make a perfect pair. “It’s nice because she reminds me very much [of] Peter,” Barb says. “They’re very compatible. The most important [thing] I think in any relationship is to really have fun with each other — and they definitely do have fun with each other!”
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Courtesy Kelley Flanagan/Instagram
The Family Gets Along
Although Barb and Kelley’s mom, Connie, have not met in person yet, they’re already extremely chummy.
“Peter got to meet [Kelley’s] mom — the whole family — and it’s great because I come from Cuba and her mom comes from Greece, and we are so much alike! We’ve raised our kids the same way, very warm and the closeness of family is really important to us,” she explains. “Her family and mine are just basically the same in that respect.”
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ABC/Maarten de Boer
Hometown Redo
Peter finally got to meet Kelley’s family in Chicago, and Barb says “it was like a hometown date.” She adds, “They had a great time. They were at Medinah Country Club in Chicago, and they had a nice dinner there and then they [played] … out on the golf course … They all met, they all had a great time. He’s met her brothers and the brothers are great.”
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Courtesy Peter Weber/Instagram
Current Routine
The adventurous Bachelor Nation couple loves to travel, but quarantining at the Webers amid the coronavirus pandemic has kept them close to home. “We’ve been basically staying at home, and we have family nights that we like to talk and we have dinners together,” Barb explains. “It’s just cozy. Every day family at home just enjoying family time!”
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ABC/Francisco Roman
Culinary Wiz Kids
Time at home means lots of time in the kitchen. “Kelley’s a great cook!” Barb expresses. As far as Peter, “his cooking skills have actually gone up a notch or two,” she adds.
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Courtesy Peter Weber/Instagram
They Adore Each Other
When it comes down to it, the fun-loving pair simply enjoy being together.
“They’re just talking all day and it’s really kind of cool to see them,” Barb explains. “Funny little things that you wouldn’t even think of, they make it so cute! They’re adorable together and it makes me so happy. Gosh, because when your child is happy, the mom is like a million times happier! I’m so happy to see them … that they really understand each other and they’re very into each other.”
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Courtesy of Peter Weber/TikTok
Taking It Slow
Barb adds their romance was “gradual” post-show and they had “real time” to get to know each other.
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Courtesy Kelley Flanagan/Instagram
True Love
Needless to say, Peter is head over heels. “I can tell you that I have never seen my son like this before, ever,” Barb says. “And to me that’s just the greatest gift — to see him so involved and so in love and so happy. He’s just over-the-moon, and he always tells me that she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to him.”
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Courtesy of Peter Weber Instagram; Courtesy of Kelley Flanagan/Instagram
An Engagement?
“There’s no rush for anything,” Barb says about the reality pair getting engaged. “Now, basically, it’s just enjoying each other’s company and getting to know each other more. When the day comes I’ll let you know!”
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AFF-USA/Shutterstock; ABC
The Next Chapter
Kelley and Peter are planning to move to New York City this year, and Barb acknowledges it’s “always been on his bucket list.” Another plus of living in the Big Apple is the pilot will be able to do “a lot of European trips” based out of NY.
“It’s also a really cool city. It’s a great city to explore and they have so many museums there and restaurants and theatre and he loves all of that! It’ll be new beginnings,” she adds. Kelley even knows how she wants to decorate their new “dream place.”
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ABC/John Fleenor
As for His Exes …
Barb has “absolutely no bad feelings” toward his exes Hannah Ann Sluss and Madison. “It’s not that I had a dislike for Madison at all, I just never saw Peter and Madison together as a mom,” she explains. “As a mom you can see much more than anyone else. You know, your son very well, and I think he’s a great girl. As a matter of fact, I think both of them are great girls. I wish them all the very, very best and may their lives just be beautiful and smooth sailings ahead.”
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Courtesy Dustin Kendrick/Instagram
Always a Fave
Kelley was Barb’s “number one” from the beginning. “She’s got something about her. It’s just a warmth. She’s very loving. She’s a very smart girl. And importantly, she’s from Chicago where I’m from,” gushes Barb. “So, I loved that. I wanted to write earlier and I never did and I thought one day, ‘OK, I’m going to tell her that she’s classy, she’s beautiful, she’s all that!’” Reporting by Diana Cooper