Britney Spears is finding healing in reconnecting with her sons Sean Preston, 19, and Jayden James, 18, after years of estrangement.
The pop star reflected in an August 24 Instagram post that “the hardest years of my life were my two sons gone for those 3 years. I was cut off from calling or texting … my secret to survival was denial and a lot of tears.”
She admitted her brief marriage to Sam Asghari “almost felt like a fake distraction to help me deal with it.”
Over the last year, the dynamic between Spears and her sons has shifted in a positive direction. After moving to Hawaii with their father Kevin Federline in 2023, Jayden reached out to his mom in late 2024.
He even spent several months living with her at her home in Thousand Oaks, California, where they bonded by watching movies, cooking, making music and playing games.
Spears later shared a sweet video of Jayden driving as she affectionately ran her fingers through his hair. A source says, “Even with their rocky past, it wasn’t awkward. They fell right into the swing of things like the old days.”
The source adds, “The boys are maturing and they want their mom in their lives, and Britney is really happy about that," as per US Weekly.
While Jayden has been leading the charge to mend their relationship, Preston is taking a slower approach. He visited his mom twice while Jayden was staying with her and has been cautiously building trust.
“Britney respects his wishes and is being very thoughtful of his feelings,” says a source.
“They’re focusing on communication without judgment. Britney’s really listening now… Rather than playing her old-school parental role, she’s humbling herself.”
Preston, who once criticized his mom’s social media habits, has become more open about sharing his opinions with her.
According to a source, “Preston has forgiven Britney for her more risqué photos, and he made it clear to her that he wanted it to stop.”
Spears has been making adjustments in her behavior and tone, showing her commitment to rebuilding their bond.
Jayden has also played an “influential” role in helping Preston reconnect with their mom, reassuring him that repairing the relationship was worth it. Despite lingering hesitations, both sons have been spending more time with Spears, giving her a renewed sense of purpose.
“Rebuilding her relationship with her sons is her biggest priority right now,” says a source. “She lights up when she talks about her kids.”
Though their communication is not constant, Spears now speaks with Jayden every few days, while Preston reaches out two or three times a month.
Their father supports their efforts to reconnect, and sources note that despite their fame, the boys live relatively normal lives.
For Spears, having her children back in her life has been deeply meaningful.
As one source put it, “The boys know Britney loves them so much, and [that they’re] the first thing she thinks about in the morning and the last thing she thinks about at night.”
