At a time when Spain has a fertility rate of just  1.2 children per woman  of childbearing age—lower even than during the Civil War—and dogs outnumber children under 14, a voice has emerged that goes radically against the grain. Olatz Elola, the protagonist of the second episode of the  Rebeldes Podcast , not only has six children, but also passionately argues that bringing life into the world is today  a revolutionary and profoundly rebellious act .

Together with priests  Pablo López  and  Ignacio Amorós  (founders of “Se Buscan Rebeldes”), Olatz answers with clarity and tenderness questions that thousands of mothers and fathers ask themselves: How to transmit faith in a hostile environment? What to say to someone who is unsure about even having a child? How to avoid becoming overwhelmed with raising children?

Children are neither a burden nor a right: they are a gift

One of the most powerful moments in the dialogue comes when Olatz responds directly to mothers who have doubts about having a third (or first) child:

“We hear a lot about children as a burden or a right, but we don’t hear about children as a  gift . This isn’t romanticizing motherhood. Motherhood is a challenge, the biggest I’ll ever face in my life. And yet, despite that challenge, my children save me.”

She uses the parable of the importunate friend to illustrate how children, with their constant demands, draw us out of ourselves and teach us God’s unconditional love: to forgive even before they ask for forgiveness, to love despite their mistakes. She insists that the weariness of motherhood  is prayer .

“I don’t have time to pray,” many mothers tell her. “Well, our lives are often a prayer. In that weariness, I encounter the Lord.”

To transmit the faith: to safeguard it, not to spoil it

The episode’s key question — “How do I pass on the faith to my children?” — receives a disruptive answer: children already have a much stronger natural connection with God than adults.

“Children know very well what it means to let go. We, as adults, want to control the plan. […] Our mission is  not to spoil it . To safeguard the path that God makes with each of our children.”

Practical tips that it shares:

• Be a channel, not a screen : Do not explain God to them as if He were limited; let God pass through the parents.
• Living example : Children do what they see, not what they are told. Seeing parents pray, make sacrifices out of love (retreats, family rosary) and choose God in times of crisis leaves a deeper impression than any catechesis.
• Answer questions respectfully : Don’t be afraid of doubts; accompany them in seeking the truth in the Word, without lowering God’s standards.
• Manipulable materials and concentration  (inspired by the Good Shepherd and Montessori pedagogy): sheepfolds, Bibles that can be touched, drawings, manual works that generate inner silence where God speaks.
• Community : Catechesis, children’s groups, leisure with others who share the same faith.

For teenagers and young adults: let them explore, like the prodigal son. If they have experienced beauty and truth at home, they will return when the world leaves them empty.

There is no perfect moment: the Lord gives grace along the way

To those who postpone motherhood hoping to “be ready,” Olatz reminds:

“There is no moment when one feels ready to be a father or mother. […] It’s one of those things that the Lord will give you as you set out on the journey.”

He quotes the Virgin in the Visitation and the lepers cured by obeying without being yet healed: grace comes by walking.

An apostolate born from real life

Olatz recounts how it all began: pregnant with her third child, she discovered the difficulty of balancing work and family. She started designing religious prints for children (not the saccharine kind) and opened  Blessings . What was intended to be a shop became a mission: thousands of families identified with its everyday Catholic life. Today,  Prayplan  (on Patreon) offers daily and weekly “trainings” with the Gospel reading of the day, applied to the real lives of mothers, wives, and professionals.

She recommends resources such as  The Little House of Nazareth  (her story about the Holy Family), books by  Tina Walls  , or  Theology of the Home .

Final message: Enjoy parenthood and trust

“Our mission is to truly enjoy being parents, to enjoy our children as much as we can, and to realize the beauty that it entails.”

And to the overwhelmed mother:

“If you give the impression that you can do everything, it’s totally unrealistic. Not being able to do everything is a good thing, because where I can’t, Mary and Jesus can.”

The full episode is available on YouTube (Se Buscan Rebeldes channel), Spotify, and other platforms. It’s a dialogue that not only informs but also ignites hope: even in 2026, choosing life and raising children in the faith remains the greatest act of rebellion possible.