Brenda Song is opening up about a surprisingly sweet challenge that comes with getting red carpet–ready, and it has everything to do with her kids.
The Running Point actress, 38, recently shared that her sons with Macaulay Culkin are not exactly fans of her glamorous looks, but not for the reason you might expect. Instead of disliking the outfits themselves, the couple’s children, Dakota, 5, and Carson, immediately associate their mom getting dressed up with her leaving the house.
As a result, those polished moments can quickly turn emotional at home.
When they see her in full glam, they plead, "'No, don't leave,' " she told Entertainment Tonight.
“The moment they see me dressed up, they cry because they know we're leaving,” she said. “Otherwise, I'm in pajamas most of the time.”
Song admitted that those reactions can be difficult to handle, especially when both parents have events to attend. She recalled getting ready alongside Culkin, 45, for the Running Point season 2 premiere on April 15, when their sons once again made it clear how much they wanted them to stay home.
“'Oh, Mama, don't leave!'” they said, highlighting just how attached they are to their parents.
Despite the emotional send-off, the couple still stepped out for their date night in coordinated style. Song opted for a sleek black Dolce & Gabbana gown featuring long sleeves, sequins, and a structured corset bodice, while Culkin kept things classic in a navy suit paired with a crisp white shirt. He added personality to the look with black-framed glasses and a pop of bright red nail polish.
While attending the Los Angeles premiere, Song also spoke with PEOPLE about another aspect of parenting young children that can be especially stressful: traveling.
She reflected on a recent experience involving Alaska Airlines, where her family was unexpectedly separated after their assigned seats were changed without warning. The situation left her frustrated, particularly given the assumptions often made about parents flying with kids.
"Everyone is like, 'Oh, parents are always trying to take the easy way out and not picking seats together,' " she told PEOPLE. "And then when you do all the right things and things still don't go right, it's crazy. I think the hardest thing for me was them expecting my 3- and 4-year-olds to be able to sit by themselves 20 rows behind us and like with a stranger."
Although the situation was ultimately resolved, Song said it was still a stressful experience in the moment, especially as airline staff worked through the issue.
She noted that while “it all worked out,” it was still challenging because everyone involved was simply trying to do their job and navigate the confusion.
In the end, Song kept things in perspective.
"We made it. We're all happy and healthy. We're fine," she said. "At the end of the day, [it's] a very small problem in the big scale of things."
