In Italy, fewer and fewer children are born, but this is not due to a lack of desire to have them. In 2024, births decreased to 370,000, a record low since Italy's unification. Yet, 69.4% of young adults - boys and girls aged 11 to 19 - say they want children, with 80% wanting two or more. It demonstrates an increasing disparity between what people want and what they are capable of achieving. This is highlighted in a report by Istat. The report depicts a demographic crisis that is progressively worsening; however, this decline does not indicate a lack of interest in parenthood. On the contrary, the numbers clearly suggest that the desire to have children is still strong. However, despite the widespread interest in starting a family, only one in three women are able to have the number of children they desire. The gap between family plans and reality is explained by tangible obstacles: economic factors, job insecurity, lack of childcare services, and housing difficulties lead many couples to postpone — or even renounce — parenthood.