For some, parenting can feel akin to protecting your house from a pair of wet bandits.
You have to stop kids from eating junk and watching rubbish and constantly heat up their highly nutritious microwavable macaroni and cheese dinners. Plus you have to be careful not to leave them, you know, home alone.
But Brenda Song insists that when it comes to their sons Dakota, 4, and Carson, 2, fiancé Macaulay Culkin is far from les incompétents.
“No matter how well you know your partner, when you have kids, it’s another phase of your relationship, because you are dealing with situations that you’ve never dealt with,” The Suite Life of Zack & Cody alum explained in an exclusive interview with E! News’ Francesca Amiker. “You’re raising little humans together. It comes down to this really ground level of who you guys are and if you connect.”
She can understand why “people break up when they have young children,” Song acknowledged, “or they go through issues, because it’s a high-stress situation.”
But with the Home Alone lead, “I am so, so fortunate that when we had kids, instead of us going through these trials and tribulations, yes, we did, but it strengthened us,” said Song, “because we realized, ‘Oh, I really am so lucky to have someone who understands me on such a different kind of level.'”
Admittedly, continued the 37-year-old, “I wasn’t expecting that because I’m so used to my crazy type A personality doing it all.” But, “Mac is so good at doing the things that I didn’t even know I needed and I didn’t even know our kids needed. I always say he’s the white glue that keeps us all together.”
Among the ways the 44-year-old, uh, sticks his neck out for the fam: “Waking up, making oatmeal at 6 a.m.,” Song detailed, “and just things that I don’t even realize that are on the checklist, he’ll just pick up without me realizing it. And it’s really special because I know it’s not always that way.”
Embarking on their parenting journey amid a global pandemic where everyone was stuck at home attempting to juggle careers and child-rearing, “It’s really hard,” said Song, “so I feel really lucky that I found someone that just gets me on a different kind of level.”
That means when the actress—currently starring in Netflix’s sports comedy Running Point—has an early morning call, “He does the morning shift,” Song shared. “Kids’ lunches are packed, their backpacks are ready so I can get the kids ready. It’s about dividing and conquering.”
And her partner of eight years is just one of Song’s secret parenting weapons.
While both she and Culkin actually enjoy cooking, “A lot of times we have to DoorDash dinner,” she admitted. And she’s been known to, say, DoorDash some blush from Sephora when she forgets a few necessities for a work trip.
Which is why she rushed at the chance to partner with the delivery service for their Mother’s Day initiative, which lets users unlock credits when they order flowers for Mom between May 9 and 11.
“It’s just an extra pair of hands,” Song raved of the app she admittedly leans on “way too much.” With the holiday promotion, “All you need to do is order Mom flowers on DoorDash, and you get up to $75 that can go towards a meal, an activity, a self care treat for mom,” she said. “How special is that?”
And, note to Culkin: “If someone doesn’t order me flowers on DoorDash on Mother’s Day, I will be very upset,” she stressed. “I will be doing it for myself.”
Not that she has any doubts about her boys treating her to the suite life she deserves.
In fact, her sole complaint when it comes to her sons is that they’re reinforcing the cliché that time really does zip by too fast.
“I spend, like, 24 hours with my kids, and it still doesn’t feel like enough,” Song noted. “No matter how much time you spend with your kids, it’ll never be enough.”
Now that they’re both out of diapers and into having opinions about everything, she’s realizing, “My boys are growing up way too quickly,” Song lamented. “I feel like every week it’s a new milestone.”
So as they’re racing to the next goal, she’s doing her best to enjoy the journey. Keep reading to see some of her and Culkin’s sweetest moments.
Go Rams
Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song were decked out in their favorite football team’s colors in 2024.
Date Night
The couple stepped out for a rare red carpet date at a Clarins product launch party in Los Angeles in March 2024.
Fun in Cabo
The couple celebrated Brenda’s 36th birthday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in 2024.
Poolside Service
Macaulay purchased a resort tshirt and pretended to be a resort employee, offering Brenda a towel as she lounged poolside.
Bellhop
He also played bellhop and carried her bags, much to Brenda’s confusion and amusement.
Meet Dakota
The two appeared with their son Dakota at Macaulay’s star ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in December 2023.
Hi Baby
Macaulay and Brenda’s baby boy Carson also made an appearance at the ceremony.
Star Power
The couple were all smiles at the family event.
Trick or Treat
In 2023, the Home Alone star got into the spooky season spirit as Brenda passed out candy.
Black & White Style
The duo appeared at the GFS Fall Benefit in Santa Monica, Calif., in October 2023.
They’re Getting Hitched
In January 2022, a source confirmed to E! News that Brenda and Macaulay were engaged. The actress showed off her engagement ring while stepping out in Beverly Hills.
Heart Day
“Hoppy Valentine’s day everyone!” Brenda shared on Instagram in 2020, when celebrating with Macaulay in the water.
Take Me Away
While strolling through Friedrichshain in Berlin in 2018, the couple displayed some PDA by holding hands.
Proud Parents
In 2022, the couple celebrated their son Dakota’s first birthday with a visit to Sesame Place San Diego. Calling it a “magical” affair, Brenda wrote on her Instagram alongside a snap of herself and Macaulay posing with Elmo, “We had so much fun!”
Birthday Bash
“Happy 40th birthday to this magical being,” Brenda wrote to Macaulay on Instagram in 2020. “I could sit here and write endlessly about how wonderful, kind, loving, genuine, loyal, honest, brilliant and hilarious you are, and how grateful I am that I get to share and do this life thing with you. But firstly, that would take me an eternity and secondly, you won’t even see this because you don’t ever use instagram. Hahaha. My unicorn that I never thought could exist, I am luckiest person in the world because I am loved by you.”
Biggest Cheerleader
“Guys, I did a podcast with my favorite bunny—podcasters and just 2 of my favorite people,” Brenda shared online when supporting her boyfriend’s podcast back in April 2018. “@bunnyearspodcast aaaand the one and only @mattbennett!”
Do-Gooders
Uniting for good! The Hollywood couple attended the 2018 Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) telecast in Los Angeles.
