Brenda Song just admitted she is proud of her heritage and she’s making sure her kids admire it too.
The 37-year-old actress who is of Thai and Hmong descent, recalled her “tight-knit” community where language and culture held high value.
Speaking to PEOPLE magazine, The Last Showgirl star stated, “My parents growing up would only speak to me and my brother in Hmong at home.”
“I’m so incredibly grateful that my parents made such a point that we didn’t lose our language or culture. We are a very tight-knit family. With my parents being refugees, I think it makes you stay even closer,” she expressed.
The celebrity, who shares two sons, Dakota and Carson, with partner, Macaulay Culkin, is now passing down the same values to her children.
“Every single night, my kids say ‘Good night’ and ‘I love you’ in English and also Hmong,” she revealed, adding, “It’s about helping them understand that this is a part of who they are. My parents, cousins and grandma are here all the time, so it’s nice for my kids to experience both sides of their heritage. I don’t want them to lose that because it’s really easy, especially in LA.”
Explaining how her traditions are deeply rooted in her life, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody talent stated, “I always like to joke that when I started dating my partner.
“I’m like, ‘Oh, honey, you’re not just dating me. You’re dating my entire family.’ My mom literally has a room in our house. We also taught Mac how to speak some Hmong, and my grandma brought the boys and Mac traditional outfits, which is amazing,” Brenda Song further stated on how her family carries on Asian traditions.