Macaulay Culkin opens up about being a proud dad to his kids with Brenda Song

The Home Alone star has spoken candidly about raising his two sons with longtime partner Brenda Song, explaining that being an emotionally present and encouraging parent is a priority for him. Culkin shares sons Dakota and Carson with Song and says he makes a conscious effort to give them the affirmation he feels was missing from his own childhood.

Culkin explained that he regularly tells his children how proud he is of them, emphasizing effort and bravery over results.

He recalled a moment when his oldest son froze during a recital and became overwhelmed. Rather than focusing on the performance itself, Culkin said he made sure his son knew how proud he was simply for getting up there and trying. For him, those words carry lasting weight and help build confidence and emotional security.

The actor also praised Brenda Song as an incredible mother, crediting her with inspiring him to be a better parent every day. He shared that seeing how happy and well-adjusted their children are has been deeply rewarding and has reinforced his commitment to breaking unhealthy patterns from his past.

Culkin has previously spoken about having a complicated and strained relationship with his own father, and he says that experience has shaped how he approaches parenting. Instead of repeating old cycles, he is focused on being supportive, loving, and openly proud of his children as they grow.

The couple, who have been together since 2017, are known for keeping their family life relatively private. Still, when Culkin does speak about fatherhood, it’s clear that being a dad is one of the roles he values most — one built on reassurance, presence, and pride.