Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song, beloved former child stars, are now dedicated parents of two sons. Their journey together began in 2017 when they met on the set of Changeland in Thailand. Culkin spoke early about his intentions for their future, saying on The Joe Rogan Experience: ''This one's a good one, so I'm probably going to put some babies in her.'' The couple fulfilled that vision, welcoming their first son, Dakota Song Culkin, on April 5, 2021, followed by a second son in late 2022.
Honoring Family with Dakota’s Name
Their firstborn was named in tribute to Macaulay’s late sister, Dakota Culkin, who tragically passed away in 2008. The couple expressed their joy in a simple statement: ''We’re overjoyed.'' Dakota's arrival also marked a new chapter for the pair, who became engaged nine months later.
Parenting in Their Own Way
Brenda Song and Macaulay Culkin have embraced a hands-on approach to parenting, choosing not to hire a nanny despite their busy schedules. Instead, they leaned on Brenda’s mother for support. In an interview with The Cut, Brenda shared, ''When I was working, my mom would bring [Dakota] to set so I could breastfeed and see him during the day.'' She emphasized the importance of support in the postpartum period: ''People tell you a lot about labor and pregnancy, but not about the fourth trimester. Make sure you have help because you physically can’t do it all.''
Brenda also prioritized self-care, fitting in workouts during Dakota’s naps. ''To be the best mom, I have to be the best me,'' she said, adding that exercise helped her stay grounded.
Balancing Parenthood and Careers
Returning to work after Dakota’s birth presented challenges for Brenda, who felt pressure to maintain her pre-motherhood pace. ''There were so many long days where I’d get home and my son would already be asleep,'' she admitted, describing the toll it took to juggle pumping breast milk on set and spending hours away from her newborn.
Family Connections and Challenges
Culkin’s brother, Kieran, confirmed the arrival of the couple’s second son in late 2022 but noted the difficulty of coordinating family visits due to their bi-coastal living situations. ''The cousins live in Los Angeles, and we live in New York,'' Kieran explained, adding, ''We just haven’t figured that out yet.'' Despite the distance, the brothers share a mutual understanding of parenthood, with Kieran recalling advice he received: ''Don’t take anyone’s advice—you’ll figure it out.''
Special Milestones
In December 2023, Brenda and their two sons joined Macaulay as he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Macaulay expressed his gratitude in his acceptance speech: ''I’d like to thank Brenda. You’re absolutely everything. You’re the best person I’ve ever known. And after the birth of our two boys, you’ve become one of my three favorite people.''
Redefining Fatherhood
Macaulay shared his evolving view of Father’s Day in June 2024, revealing his complicated relationship with the holiday in an Instagram post. ''Since becoming a papa myself, I’ve decided to reinvent the wheel,'' he wrote. ''I try to make the day a celebration of my boys more than me… They are the ones who made me a father.''
Through their heartfelt parenting approach, Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song have embraced the joys and challenges of raising their sons while balancing demanding careers and a deep commitment to family.
