Everything Britney Spears has said about teenage sons Sean and Jayden
Britney Spears is not only a pop icon but a mother of two whose tumultuous family dynamic has made headlines over the years.
The “Toxic” singer shares two teenage sons — Sean Preston and Jayden James — with her ex-husband Kevin Federline.
While she and her former backup dancer were married from 2004 to 2007, they welcomed their eldest in 2005, followed by Jayden in 2006.
Spears’ relationship with her kids following her and K-Fed’s split has been somewhat of a mystery as the singer’s private life was shielded from the public during her 13-year conservatorship.
However, the Princess of Pop’s conservatorship was terminated in November 2021. When she married Sam Asghari in June of the following year, her kids did not attend the nuptials.
Things continued to appear tense 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 is everything we know about Spears’ relationship with Sean and Jayden.
Birthday boys
Spears posted throwback photos with her sons to celebrate their birthdays in September 2022 amid their estrangement.
“Happy birthday Preston and Jayden 🎉🎈!!!” she captioned the social media slideshow. “”Love you both so much 🥰 !!! These photos are from last year !!!”
That same day, Spears posted an Instagram video of herself dancing while crying, telling her followers that she needed the “release.”
Wedding mama drama
Following Federline’s bombshell interview, Spears fired back at him for airing their personal family drama so publicly.
“Only one word: Hurtful,” she wrote on her Instagram Story at the time. “It saddens me 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 never easy for anyone.”
She also addressed K-Fed’s criticism of Spears often posting nude content to her Instagram account, noting that she has the freedom to post what she wants now that her conservatorship has come to an end.
“I needed permission just to take Tylenol !!!” she wrote. “I should embark on doing WAAAY more than going topless on the beach like a baby !!!!”
Spears’ husband chimed in with a post of his own, writing, “There is no validity to his statement regarding the kids distancing themselves and it is irresponsible to make that statement publicly.
“The boys are very smart and will be 18 soon to make their own decisions and may eventually realize the ‘tough’ part was having a father who hasn’t worked much in over 15 years as a role model,” Asghari continued.
Hate is a “Stronger” word
Later that same week, Spears took to social media to drag her sons for being “hateful” in the past.
“I know that teenagers are just hard to deal with … but COME ON,” the Grammy winner wrote in a lengthy Instagram post on Aug. 10.
“There’s being rude then there’s being 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 that he just likes to be in his room. I’m like why come visit 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 to visit her less often.
“It’s been kinda nice not having to ask about which day the boys are coming this week and making me wait 2 or 3 days for a reply !!!” she told her Instagram followers.
Caught on tape
Spears was allegedly captured arguing with her sons in videos shared by Federline Aug. 10.
The “Crossroads” actress appeared to scold her children while they were in bed, pleading with them to respect her in a clip filmed on an unknown date.
“You all need to start treating me like a woman with worth,” Spears told them in the footage, adding, “I am a woman, okay? Be nice to me. Do you understand?”
In another clip, Spears was seen punishing her son Sean by taking his phone away after he entered a store without wearing shoes.
“Have you lost your f–king mind? Have you lost your f–king mind?” she allegedly yelled. “I’m shocked as f–k with you and I don’t know what to do. And I’m scared of you because you’re weird because you’re going through puberty. And I don’t know what to say. But I do care more than you know.”
Secretive sons
Back in September 2021, Spears shared a rare look inside her relationship with Sean and Jayden, telling fans that 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 mom.
“My boys’ birthdays were last week … and unfortunately they are growing up and want 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 !!!”
Although she wanted to describe their fun birthday festivities, Spears clarified, “There’s a lot I can’t share with you all because my kids are very private which I love but I will tell you they are 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’re not … I love you two little devils so much,” she concluded at the time.
That same month, Spears shared another sweet moment between her and her sons where they visited the Van Gogh museum in Los Angeles together.
“I went with the people who would love me anyways no matter how silly I acted when I opened my mouth 😂 😂 😂 !!!” she wrote of the outing, which she called “VIP.”
Child custody 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 child custody agreement, agreeing on 70/30 in favor of Federline. As part of their agreement, the songwriter has to pay Federline thousands of dollars a month.
The following month, Spears documented a fun trip to Disneyland with her boys, writing about the “great time” via Instagram and thanking Sean and Jayden for posing for a pic.
When the actress’ conservatorship was terminated two years later, the terms of her and Federline’s agreement did not change.
Becoming a mom
Spears and Federline welcomed Sean in 2005.
“We are ecstatic to announce the birth of our son!” the new mom wrote on her website (via Us Weekly) at the time, adding, “Everyone is happy, healthy and doing wonderful. Thank you for all your love and well wishes!”
A year later, she welcomed Jayden. Spears told Access in 2006 that “everything [was] great” with her back-to-back babies.
Spears recently looked back on her nursing journey via Instagram.
“I breast-fed my two boys like a freaking milk factory,” she wrote in March 2020. “I had literally six full bottles pumped out and ready to go at all times beside me as I was breast-feeding because I never wanted my babies to go hungry! I was always spraying out and leaking because I was so full of milk. It kind of hurt my boobs!”
She recalled, “I remember how strong my back had to be holding them.”
Memory lane
In May 2021, the “Toxic” singer looked back on her boys’ childhood via Instagram.
“I had my babies very young … at all the pools we went to on tours, all the babies flocked to me because I always brought the the most toys 🧸🪁🪀 … I really am a baby mamma 😜😜😜 !!!!” she wrote alongside a throwback photo with her sons by the pool.
From boys to men
While the pop star did not often discuss her children publicly, she shared more as they got older.
“[Watching them grow] LITERALLY SUCKS,” she wrote in a March 2022 Instagram (via Us Weekly). “They [don’t] need me anymore. … I’ve cried oceans for my boys and I’m not lying!!!! Hopefully one day I can show recent pics of us but in the meantime, I respect their wishes!!!!”
For both of their September birthdays six months later, she gushed, “My two lil men’s birthdays are this week!!!!!! You guys are getting older and so big and are waaay cooler than me !!!!! I love you both to the moon and back and I hope all of your bday wishes come true and more !!!!!”
