‘Where there’s new life, there’s hope,’ says one mother ahead of Mother’s Day in Jubilee year

By Tanya Connor
The Catholic Free Press

For Mother’s Day this Jubilee Year of Hope, a local Catholic offers parenting inspiration – simply by giving glimpses into her family’s lifestyle and philosophy.

Christopher and Katie Flebotte celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary May 1; they intentionally married on the feast of St. Joseph the Worker at the beginning of the month of Mary.

They now have 10 children, ages one to 18. They also have a dog, layer chickens, dairy goats and their kids, cats and kittens, and rabbits with baby bunnies.

“Bringing life into the world – that’s what motherhood is about,” Mrs. Flebotte said. “Where there’s new life, there’s hope.”

The family lives in West Warren and belongs to St. Paul Oratory in Warren, where the children like to be involved however they can be.

After Bishop Richard F. Reidy’s ordination and installation April 29, Mrs. Flebotte was joined by some of her children in greeting the new Bishop of Norwich.

“They loved Father Reidy,” when he served at St. Paul’s; some were altar servers for him there and helped clean the cemetery, she said. “He makes himself so likable. … We always…teach the children a great respect for the clergy and religious.”

They also urge their children to pray about a religious vocation, as well as preparing for marriage.

“We’ve always encouraged responsibility” in working, especially with the boys, who might someday have families to support, she said.

Their oldest, Sean, worked for pay for his father’s business, Flebotte Construction, for about two years, she said. The couple encouraged Sean to buy a car for himself, which he was able to do because he’d been responsible with his money.

Their 16-year-old, Kimberly, also has savings from helping on a farm and cleaning and babysitting for other mothers. The Flebottes encourage domestic work for their girls, and therefore would be more inclined to help Kimberly pay for a car or other expenses.

“I need help here; it’s kind of her payment for helping me,” the mother said. Kimberly is learning cooking, cleaning and child care.

Their other daughter, 8-year-old Philomena, “is also a good help; she loves being in the kitchen with me.”

Mrs. Flebotte said she’s not pushing her daughters to find a way to provide for a family. She said she would support them if they wanted a career, but also if they chose to be stay-at-home, homeschooling mothers like she is.

“I’ve always homeschooled,” starting with kindergarten for Sean, who finished high school last year, she said. “I was homeschooled myself.” (She’s the oldest of 10.)

She said she doesn’t agree with much of public school content and methods of teaching. She sends her children to some classes – including drama, music, higher math and some catechesis – at St. Thomas Aquinas School in Warren, with which several homeschooling families are involved.

“They’re not socially awkward,” Mrs. Flebotte said of her children; they have many friends from good Catholic families from the school and oratory.

They also socialize with children, including homeschooled non-Catholics, who come to the weekly group she started – to give mothers a chance to talk with each other while their children play.

“We don’t have TV in our home,” Mrs. Flebotte said. “Computer use is very limited. My kids are outside playing, building Legos, reading books. Nobody ever asks” to use the computer. The two oldest have cell phones, which, like their parents’ cell phones, do not have internet or social media access.

“We’re not addicted to our screens,” Mrs. Flebotte maintained. “We spend time with the people around us. … So much immorality is put out as good online.” Instead, in the evening her husband, who tries not to work long days, reads to the children.

Work and prayer are also part of family life. The children help plant and weed the organic garden.

“It’s so good for them to know where their food comes from,” their mother said. It cuts expenses and is healthy.

The family prays during homeschooling, says grace and the Angelus, and a rosary each evening, and she and her husband pray with each other.

The two of them also go on dates, which she said gives their children a good example, in a world where marriage is often not permanent. It shows them “we’re together; we love each other; we love them.”

Mrs. Flebotte said other people might do things differently; what’s important is that they do their best as Catholics and mothers.