Brenda Song, renowned for her roles in Disney productions, recently shared insights into her life as a mother during an episode of the podcast “Not Gonna Lie.” The 38-year-old actress, who is in a relationship with fellow actor Macaulay Culkin, opened up about the amusing misunderstandings her two sons, Dakota, aged five, and Carson, aged three, have regarding their parents’ careers in the entertainment industry.
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Speaking with host Kylie Kelce, Song revealed that her sons have little comprehension of their parents’ fame. In a lighthearted anecdote, she described how her partner introduced the children to her performance in the Disney film “Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior.” Both boys, who are accustomed to seeing family photos and videos, were baffled by the sight of their mother executing stunts on-screen.
“They were really confused,” Song explained. “Their first reaction was, ‘Why is Mama flying across a warehouse doing kicks? Can you do that in real life?’” Their innocent curiosity left her momentarily at a loss for how to explain the complexities of her profession. In jest, she turned to Culkin and quipped, “How dare you do this to me?”
Determined to use their belief in her superhuman abilities to her advantage, Song adopted a playful approach to parenting. She lightheartedly threatened the boys with flying sidekicks if they did not behave, demonstrating her ability to combine humour with discipline. “You better listen to mama, otherwise, mama will be doing flying sidekicks from across the room,” she said, managing to turn their entertainment-clad imaginations into a parenting tactic.
Brenda noted that her children view her and Culkin through a lens that differs drastically from the reality of their careers. While the actress feels she has maintained her appearance over the years, she remarked that the children struggle to see their father, famous for his role as Kevin in “Home Alone,” as the same person represented in pictures. “They don’t understand that he is Kevin,” she explained, illustrating how the dynamics of celebrity culture can confuse young minds.
After watching “Home Alone” for the first time, Dakota and Carson developed a fondness for the film but remained oblivious to the fact that Culkin plays the iconic character. Song reflected on their reactions, recalling how her boys thoroughly enjoyed the holiday classic without recognising their father on screen.
During a conversation about her career, Song mentioned a humorous incident involving her son at school. When asked by a teacher about his mother’s profession, Dakota responded simply, “Oh, my mama talks. She talks for a living.” While technically accurate, his interpretation highlights the difficulty young children face in grasping the nuances of their parents’ careers in acting.
Brenda acknowledged the challenges inherent in trying to explain the intricacies of acting to her children. “It’s hard for kids at this age to understand that their parents pretend to be other people on TV,” she noted, recognising that such concepts may be challenging for young minds to comprehend fully.
Looking ahead, the actress expressed optimism about eventually having more in-depth discussions about her and Culkin’s occupations with her children. “We’ll cross that bridge when we need to,” she concluded, indicating that she and Culkin are committed to helping their sons understand the world they inhabit as they grow older.
In sharing her experiences, Brenda Song highlights both the joys and challenges of parenting in a celebrity household. Her candid reflections offer a glimpse into the everyday realities for stars raising children amid the unique circumstances of fame. As Dakota and Carson continue to navigate their early years, it is clear that Song will approach their development with the same blend of humour and love that she brings to her performances on screen.