Brenda Song Says Home Alone Inspired Her, Macaulay Culkin’s Parenting

by

Brenda Song is giving her kids some suite life lessons.

Actress Brenda Song, known from The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, shared that she and her husband, Macaulay Culkin, recently let their sons, Dakota, 4, and Carson, 3, watch his classic 1990 film Home Alone for the very first time. They used the movie as a chance to teach the boys about the importance of not talking to strangers.

“Kids really enjoy all the playful mischief and tricky surprises,” Brenda explained to Erin Lim Rhodes on TopMob News’ The Rundown. “They don’t fully understand how dangerous it can be. My older son is more aware than my younger one.”

Despite appearing naive, the 37-year-old cleverly used the plot of the popular Christmas movie to get on her children’s good side.

She recalled saying to them, ‘Look, Mommy’s right here with you. Don’t you want to hug me? I never left.’ She admitted it felt manipulative, but believed a little fear could be effective with children.

Brenda, whose new film Operation Taco Gary’s comes out on February 27th, has been teaching her sons, along with Macaulay’s, about staying safe around strangers.

She explained that, in her view, anyone you don’t know by name is a stranger. She emphasized that this applies even to parents of people you know – if you haven’t met them and don’t know their name, they’re still strangers to her.

The actress from Running Point always looks for ways to teach her children about safety, even when they’re just doing everyday things like going shopping.

She explained that she constantly worried about finding her way back. ‘I’m always thinking about how to get home,’ she said. ‘Whenever we enter a building, I wonder how we arrived and, more importantly, how we’ll leave.’ She even found herself pointing out exit signs to her companions.

Macaulay acknowledged that her partner thinks she worries too much about safety, especially when it comes to Brenda’s concerns.

Brenda’s latest film, Operation Taco Gary’s, hits theaters on February 27th. You can also see more from her interview on The Rundown next week.

For a look back at some of her and Macaulay’s cutest pics through the years, keep reading… 

Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song were on theme at Billie Lourd‘s 33rd birthday party in July 2025.

To celebrate their eighth anniversary in June 2025, Brenda posted a heartwarming photo on Instagram with a sweet message about her partner. She wrote that no one else can make her laugh and smile quite like they do, and that she feels truly understood, listened to, and loved when she’s with them.

To my best friend, my partner in everything, and the father of my child – thank you. Being loved by you is the greatest gift.

Macaulay and Brenda were decked out in their favorite football team’s colors in 2024.

In March 2024, the couple made a rare public appearance together at a Clarins product launch event in Los Angeles.

The couple celebrated Brenda’s 36th birthday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in 2024. 

Macaulay bought a t-shirt from the resort and then playfully pretended to work there, offering Brenda a towel while she relaxed by the pool.

He also played bellhop and carried her bags, much to Brenda’s confusion and amusement.

In December 2023, Macaulay and his partner were seen with their son, Dakota, at the Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony.

Macaulay and Brenda’s baby boy Carson also made an appearance at the ceremony.

The couple were all smiles at the family event.

In 2023, the Home Alone star got into the spooky season spirit as Brenda passed out candy.

The duo appeared at the GFS Fall Benefit in Santa Monica, Calif., in October 2023.

TopMob News reported in January 2022 that Brenda and Macaulay were engaged. The actress was seen with her engagement ring while out in Beverly Hills.

I remember being so happy to see Brenda post on Instagram back in 2020! She wished everyone a ‘Hoppy Valentine’s Day’ while she was having fun with Macaulay in the water – it was such a sweet and playful moment!

In 2018, while walking around the Friedrichshain neighborhood of Berlin, the couple showed affection by holding hands.

In 2022, Brenda and Macaulay Culkin celebrated their son Dakota’s first birthday with a trip to Sesame Place San Diego. Brenda shared a photo on Instagram of herself and Macaulay with Elmo, calling the day “magical” and saying they “had so much fun!”

Okay, so it was Macaulay’s 40th birthday back in 2020, and I just had to tell him how amazing he is! Seriously, I could go on forever listing all the things I love about him – he’s the kindest, funniest, most genuine person ever, and I’m so unbelievably grateful to even be in his life. But honestly? He doesn’t even use Instagram, so he’d never see it, haha! He’s like my own personal unicorn – I never believed someone like him could actually be real, and I’m just the luckiest person in the world that he loves me back.

In April 2018, Brenda excitedly announced online that she had been a guest on her boyfriend Matt Bennett’s podcast, ‘@bunnyearspodcast’. She called him and the podcast two of her favorite things!

The famous couple showed their support for cancer research by attending the Stand Up To Cancer event in Los Angeles in 2018.

Read More

2026-02-26 04:47