Britney Spears is not only a pop icon, but also a mother of two whose tumultuous family dynamics have made headlines over the years.
The ‘Toxic’ singer shares two teenage sons – Sean Preston and Jayden James – with ex-husband Kevin Federline.
While she and her former backing dancer were married from 2004 to 2007, they welcomed their eldest in 2005, followed by Jayden in 2006.
Spears’ relationship with her children who followed her and K-Fed’s split was somewhat of a mystery, as the singer’s private life was shielded from the public during her 13-year conservatory.
However, the Princess of Pop Conservatory was terminated in November 2021. When she married Sam Asghari in June of the following year, her children were not present at the wedding.
Tensions remained between the Grammy winner and the teens, with Federline telling The Daily Mail in August 2022 that they chose not to see her for months.
Here’s everything we know about Spears’ relationship with Sean and Jayden.
Wedding mom drama
After Federline’s bombshell interview, Spears fired back at him for airing their personal family drama so publicly.
“Just one word: Hurtful,” she wrote on her Instagram Story at the time. “I am saddened to hear that my ex-husband has decided to discuss the relationship between me and my children. As we all know, raising teenage boys is not easy for anyone.”
She also addressed K-Fed’s criticism of Spears who often posts nude content on her Instagram account, noting that she has the freedom to post whatever she wants now that her conservatorship has come to an end.
“I needed permission to take Tylenol!!!” she wrote. “I should be doing WAAY more than going topless on the beach like a baby!!!!”
Spears’ husband agreed to a post of his own, writing: “There is no validity to his statement about the children distancing and it is irresponsible to make that statement publicly.
“The boys are very smart and will soon be 18 to make their own decisions and will eventually realize that the ‘hard’ part was having a dad who hasn’t worked much as a role model in over 15 years,” continued Asghari.
Hate is a “stronger” word
Later that same week, Spears took to social media to lash out at her sons for being “hateful” in the past.
“I know teens are just hard to deal with…but COME ON,” the Grammy winner wrote in a lengthy Instagram post on Aug. 10.
“There’s rude, then there’s HATEFUL,” she added. “They would visit me, walk in the door, go straight to their room and lock the door!!! The MONITOR would tell me he just likes to be in his room. I’m like, why are they coming to see me if they don’t even visit me!!!”
Spears wrote that she “tried and tried” to bond with them, noting that she felt relieved when her sons asked her to visit her less often.
“It was pretty nice not having to ask what day the guys are coming this week and making me wait 2 or 3 days for an answer!!!” she told her Instagram followers.
Captured on tape
Spears was reportedly captured arguing with her sons in videos shared by Federline on Aug. 10.
The “Crossroads” actress appeared to berate her children while they were in bed, begging them to respect her in a clip filmed at an unknown date.
“You all have to start treating me like a woman of value,” Spears told them in the footage, adding, “I’m a woman, okay? Be nice to me. Do you understand?”
In another clip, Spears saw her son punish Sean by taking his phone after he entered a store without wearing shoes.
‘Have you lost your damn mind? Have you lost your damn mind?’ she reportedly shouted. “I’m as shocked as f–k with you and I don’t know what to do. And I’m afraid of you because you’re weird because you’re going through puberty. And I don’t know what to say. But I care more than you know.”
Mysterious sons
In September 2021, Spears shared a rare glimpse into her relationship with Sean and Jayden, telling fans they are “very private.”
“There is nothing stronger than the love between a mother and son,” Spears’ post read, along with a lengthy caption about her evolving role as a mother.
“My boys’ birthdays were last week… and unfortunately they are growing up and wanting to do their own things,” she wrote in the post. “I have to ask their permission to post them because they are extremely independent little men!!!”
While she wanted to describe their fun birthday festivities, Spears clarified: “There’s a lot I can’t share with all of you because my kids are very private, which I love, but I’ll tell you they’re both extremely talented and I’m so incredibly blessed to have these two little men in my life!!!
“And if they’re reading this…which I’m pretty sure they aren’t…I love you two little devils so much,” she concluded.
That same month, Spears shared a sweet moment between her and her sons when they visited the Van Gogh museum in Los Angeles together.
“I went with the people who would love me anyway, no matter how crazy I was when I opened my mouth 😂 😂 😂 !!!” she wrote about the outing, which she called “VIP.”
guardianship explained
Spears’ custody agreement with Federline has changed over the years, with the exes initially sharing their sons 50/50.
However, in September 2019, the duo legally changed their custody agreement, agreeing 70/30 in favor of Federline. As part of their agreement, the songwriter Federline has to pay thousands of dollars a month.
The following month, Spears documented a fun trip to Disneyland with her boys, writing about the “amazing time” via Instagram, and thanking Sean and Jayden for posing for a photo.
When the actress’s custody ended two years later, the terms of the agreement between her and Federline did not change.
become a mother
Spears and Federline welcomed Sean in 2005.
“We are thrilled to announce the birth of our son!” the new mom wrote on her website at the time (via Us Weekly) adding, “Everyone is happy, healthy and doing great. Thank you for all your love and get well wishes!”
A year later, she welcomed Jayden. Spears told Access in 2006 that “everything” [was] wonderful” with her back-to-back babies.
Spears recently reflected on her nursing journey via Instagram.
“I breastfed my two boys like a goddamn dairy,” she wrote in March 2020. “I had literally pumped out six full bottles and was always ready to sit next to me while I was breastfeeding because I never wanted my babies to starve. suffering! I used to squirt and leak because I was so full of milk, it hurt my breasts!”
She recalled, “I remember how strong my back had to be to hold them.”
Memory Strip
In May 2021, the ‘Toxic’ singer looked back at her boys’ childhood via Instagram.
“I had my babies very young… at all the pools we toured, all the babies flocked to me because I always brought most of the toys with me 🧸🪁🪀… I really am a baby mama 😜😜😜!! !!” she wrote alongside a throwback photo with her sons by the pool.
From boys to men
While the pop star didn’t talk about her kids often in public, she shared more as they got older.
“[Watching them grow] LITERALLY SUCKS,” she wrote on Instagram in March 2022 (via Us Weekly). “She [don’t] don’t need me anymore. … I’ve cried oceans for my boys and I’m not lying!!!! Hopefully one day I can show recent pictures of us, but in the meantime I respect their wishes!!!!”
For both of their birthdays in September, six months later, she gushed, “My two little guys have birthdays this week!!!!!! You’re getting older and so big and really cooler than me!!!!! I love you both to the moon and back and I hope all your birthday wishes come true and more!!!!!”