Brenda Song and Macaulay Culkin are, honestly, the ultimate "if you know, you know" couple of our generation. They both grew up in the spotlight—one as the face of the biggest Christmas movie ever, the other as Disney Channel’s most iconic heiress. But when it comes to brenda song kids, the pair has taken a sharp left turn from the typical Hollywood oversharing playbook. They don’t post "day in the life" TikToks with their toddlers. You won't find their faces plastered all over Instagram for likes.
Instead, they’ve built this quiet, surprisingly normal life in Los Angeles that feels more like a suburban retreat than a celebrity fishbowl.
The First Arrival: Dakota Song Culkin
In April 2021, the world found out that Brenda and Mack (as she calls him) had become parents. They named their first son Dakota Song Culkin. It’s a beautiful name, but it’s also a heavy one. He’s named after Macaulay’s late sister, Dakota, who tragically died in 2008.
The couple didn’t do a big magazine spread to announce him. They just released a simple, three-word statement: "We are overjoyed."
Dakota is four now. According to Brenda, he’s basically a mini-version of his dad. He even has that same dry sense of humor. During his dad’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in late 2023—which was the first time we actually saw the kids—Dakota was rocking a mohawk and a blue suit. He looked exactly like a 90s-era Mack. Brenda has joked that Dak actually thinks he is the kid in Home Alone. He watches the movie and genuinely believes he’s Kevin McCallister.
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The "Secret" Second Son: Carson Song Culkin
If you thought they were private with the first one, they were even stealthier with the second. Carson Song Culkin arrived in late 2022, but the public didn’t even know he existed until Macaulay’s brother, Kieran Culkin, accidentally let it slip in an interview months later.
Brenda eventually shared the name in early 2025. She also told a pretty wild story on Live with Kelly and Mark about his birth. Apparently, Carson was in a massive rush. He didn’t wait for her to push; he basically "came out on a contraction."
Brenda’s exact words? "He really wanted to be here."
Carson is about three now. While Dakota is the spitting image of his dad, Carson is supposedly all Brenda. He even has her signature raspy voice. It’s funny how genetics work like that—one child for each parent.
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Why You Rarely See Them
You’ve probably noticed that Brenda and Macaulay are fiercely protective. They didn't even show their kids' faces until that Walk of Fame event, and even then, it was a one-time thing. Brenda has been very vocal about the fact that her children "didn’t ask for this life."
She’s mentioned in interviews that Dakota actually gets scared of the cameras. When paparazzi try to take photos at soccer practice, the kids don't understand why strangers are pointing lenses at them.
The No-Nanny Approach (Mostly)
One thing that really shocks people about their parenting style is that they don’t have a fleet of nannies.
- They do the "tag-team" method.
- When Brenda is filming, Mack is the primary caregiver.
- Brenda’s mom, Mai Song, lives nearby and helps out constantly.
- They’re "antisocial" by choice—most of their nights are spent playing Mario Kart or watching the Rams.
Honestly, it’s kind of refreshing. In an era where every celebrity kid has a brand before they can talk, Brenda and Mack are just trying to keep the "holiday magic" alive. Brenda recently confessed that she goes all out for Christmas—Elf on the Shelf, Advent calendars, the whole nine yards. She even argues with Dakota when he points out that the mall Santa looks different from the one they saw last week.
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The Reality of Two Under Five
Raising two boys just 15 months apart isn't a "suite life" every day. Brenda has been incredibly candid about how hard the transition was. She had two pregnancies in the same calendar year. That’s a lot for any body to handle, let alone while trying to maintain a career in an industry that isn't always kind to moms.
She actually questioned if she should even keep acting. There was a point where she felt like she couldn't just "uproot" to Bulgaria for nine months for a film. It was Macaulay who told her she was being "insane" and pushed her to keep going.
They’ve found a rhythm now. Communication is their big thing. They talk through everything. They’ve even mentioned that their house is the "playdate house" because they want to be the ones supervising the chaos.
Lessons from the Song-Culkin Household
If you’re looking for parenting "hacks" from these two, it boils down to three things:
- Privacy is a choice. You don’t owe the world photos of your children.
- Support your partner’s identity. Brenda says she’s a better mom because she still works and honors her own passions.
- Keep it simple. Despite the millions in the bank, their kids are happy with garbage trucks, Spider-Man toys, and "Papa T-Rex" (Mack's dinosaur alter-ego).
What’s next for the family? Brenda is busier than ever with projects like Running Point and Blue Eye Samurai, and Mack is joining the cast of Fallout season 2. But you can bet that when the cameras are off, they’re just going home to be "mama" and "papa" to two boys who still have no idea their parents are famous.
To keep up with the latest updates on Brenda’s career and her advocacy for work-life balance for moms, check out her recent features in Bustle and Cosmopolitan where she dives deeper into the "invisible labor" of parenting.