Ivan Díez: "We are building a new way of being a family"
Radio and television producer and father of Mateu and Carlota, aged 14 and 9. He currently works on 'La mañana de Catalunya Ràdio' with Ricard Ustrell, but has worked with radio legends such as Luis del Olmo, Iñaki Gabilondo, Josep Cuní, and Gemma Nierga. He contributes to 'Diumenge', where each week he co-hosts 'Ni un día en casa' with Carles Domènech and Adrià Albets, reviewing a restaurant.
BarcelonaBeing a parent is a wonderful experience, but also a bewildering one. I have two children, and although I try to give them the best of myself, I often feel that I'm not raising them with the same confidence and ease that my parents had when they raised me. They seemed to know exactly how to do it: what limits to set, what freedoms to give, what values to instill. I, on the other hand, have many more doubts.
Because?
— Perhaps it's because today there are a thousand opinions, a thousand ways of doing things, and everything happens so fast. I often find myself worrying about whether I'm giving them too much or too little space, whether I'm passing on solid values or just my own fears. I'm concerned about not knowing how to find the balance. If I know how my parents raised me, why can't I do it the same way?
Good question. Do you have an answer?
— I think that constant doubt is part of being a parent today. We question ourselves a lot and try to do our best. And perhaps that's the key: in this willingness to be there, to support them, and to reflect on ourselves. Perhaps we don't raise our children the way we were raised; the world isn't the same either.
What's so hard about doing what your parents do?
— To replicate that sense of emotional security that surrounded me when I was little. I remember Mom and Dad as two solid pillars. Maybe they didn't know everything, but they made the world seem stable, a place where I could breathe without fear. Now that I'm a father, I realize how extraordinary that was, and how difficult it is to achieve.
She just went through a separation. How is she doing?
— I can't prevent my children from feeling sadness, from missing things that used to be constant, but I can be present in every moment we share, even if it's different. I try to get down to their level, listen to them, and remember that our connection doesn't depend on a physical space, but on how we love each other and how I support them.
What helps you?
— Patience and perseverance. It's not about immediately getting back to the life we had, but about building a new life with them, with rhythms and habits that make us feel safe and loved. I try to be consistent, maintain routines that give them security, and above all, convey that change isn't a loss, but a new way to grow together. During this time, I try to let myself be guided by love rather than guilt or fear. And here I want to acknowledge the children's mother, who always makes it easy for everything to work. She always has. She's always been everyone's rock.
Despite the setback, are there any positive aspects?
— We are building a new kind of family, based on patience and understanding. And this, amidst everything, is a quiet miracle that fills me with hope. I am guided by respect and honesty: being sincere with them about how I feel, without burdening them with my fears, and listening to them when they want to talk. It's incredibly hard, yes, but there are also moments of pure beauty: a shared smile, an unexpected hug, an "I love you" that comes from the heart. These small moments remind us that, nevertheless, love is the compass that guides us and that can always rebuild us.
It's not the children's job, but they often help, right?
— There are days when, without even realizing it, they lend me a hand simply by being themselves. A smile when I'm exhausted, a kind gesture when I think they haven't noticed my sadness, or a thoughtful comment that makes me see things differently. This is real help. They remind me that I'm not alone, that together we support and care for each other. They are adapting very well, and that adaptation is a great form of intelligence.
Do you think you're getting ahead?
— I'm leaving because, despite everything, they come home with a smile, laughing, eager to be with their dad. This fills me with immense joy and confirms that, despite the changes and difficulties, our relationship remains strong. They laugh at me when my lasagna doesn't turn out quite right or if I haven't collected the laundry from the roof in three days. And this laughter makes our relationship healthier and strengthens our bond. Seeing them happy makes me feel like I'm trying to do my job well and, above all, that I'm conveying my unconditional love to them.