Britney Spears has accomplished a lot in her professional life, and she is loved and respected by millions of people, but for her, her biggest achievement by far is raising her two sons. These sons are Sean Preston and Jayden James, whom Spears shares with her ex-husband, Kevin Federline.

The interest surrounding their mother has ensured that Sean and Jayden are always going to be photographed by the paparazzi, and whatever they (or their parents) do makes headlines. They have been raised in the limelight, yet it's amazing to see just how much they have grown up; from toddlers being carried around by their mom to preteens with their own unique personalities and interests, which range from skateboarding to drawing.

Spears and her children share a close bond, and motherhood is something she has really embraced. Over the years she has chosen to not just share aspects of her own life with fans but also photos of her sons and her thoughts about what being their mother means to her. And now that her boys are bigger than she is — she’s only 5ft 4 (163.2 cm) anyway — we take a look back at their lives. Below are 20 photos of Britney Spears’ children growing up.

20 The Boys Were Young When Kevin Federline And Britney Spears Split...

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline never really had the same Hollywood status as her previous relationship with Justin Timberlake did. Instead, their relationship was confusing to some and complicated (especially toward the end), but they were happy for a time.

The former couple married in October 2004 and although the marriage didn’t last — Spears filed for divorce on Nov. 7, 2006 — they did stay together long enough to have two sons. Their first child, Sean Preston, was born on Sept. 14, 2005, and his brother, Jayden James arrived almost a year later, on Sept. 12, 2006.

Both boys were young when their parents divorced.

19 ...But Brit’s Preteen Boys Are Growing Up So Quickly

It’s amazing how the years have flown by! Between 2004 and 2006, Britney Spears and Kevin Federline were making headlines for a number of reasons, and their children were just babies, but fast forward more than a decade, and Sean Preston and Jayden James are preteens who are growing up fast.

Spears has taken to social media to comment on how her boys have grown up so quickly. She shared a photo of herself and her sons, and wrote: “The boys are bigger than me now!!” She isn’t exactly tall though, and according to Celeb Height, Spears is just 5ft 4 (163.2 cm).

18 They Are Creative (Like Their Mama), And Budding Little Artists

Britney Spears has earned fame and success from her chosen profession, and there is no doubt she is a multi-talented woman who can sing, dance — and depending on who you ask — act. But what many people may not realize is that she is also an artist.  She has shared a video of herself painting with her two sons, and it seems they share this interest.

Spears also likes to post about her homelife online and has often posted photos of her sons and their artwork, telling fans how proud she is of their dedication to their craft, and the amount of work and detail that goes into their creations.

17 But They Are Also Pretty Athletic, And Their Favorite Sport Is SkateBoarding

Anyone who has been a fan of Britney Spears for a long time will find it hard to believe just how much her sons have grown up. Their photos have been taken by the paparazzi from when they were just babies (their mother’s fame ensured that they had no say in this) and the world has literally seen these two boys grow up before their eyes.

They’ve gone from little boys being carried around by their mom, to preteens who have developed their own unique personalities and interests, and one of these interests is in skateboarding.

16 They Have A Close Bond With Britney (And They Have Since They Were Little)

Britney Spears has been in the public eye for decades. Fans have celebrated her triumphs and felt sad when she struggled, and Spears is no doubt thankful for the continued support of these individuals because without her fans she would not be relevant. Perhaps this is why she chooses to not just share her professional persona with the world, but also her home life, and what it is like to be a mom.

Her willingness to share photos on her social media has given fans a glimpse into who Jayden James and Sean Preston are, as well as the close bond they share with their mom.

15 Like Their Mom, These Boys Have A Silly Side

Britney Spears often speaks about how proud she is of her children, and how much love she has for them, and it’s a beautiful thing. But she is also one of the most down-to-earth celebrities out there because her social media is not a series of perfect, edited photos, and instead, she shares silly selfies and photos of her home life.

Spears wants to have fun with her children, and it seems she doesn’t take herself too seriously — as this photo shows. She has made headlines multiple times for her playful nature, including an article from The Mirror titled, “Britney Spears makes her sons laugh with silly faces in selfie video on the way to skate park.” What a mom, right?!

14 Brit’s Boys Are Smart And Dedicated (She’s Even Taking Classes To Help Them With Their School Work)

Education is important, and although many successful people did not attend college, or, in some cases, finish high school, Britney Spears wants her sons to focus on their studies. She has spoken to People (via Billboard) about how "homework is a priority” in her household, but she is also dedicated to helping her sons learn.

“They go to a really hard school, and this week we had three hours of homework [a night],” Spears previously told People (via HuffPost). “Some of it is hard for me. Next year when [Preston’s] in fifth grade, he’s going to be doing pre-algebra, and I’m taking classes so I know how to do it!”

13 Something Else They Got From Britney Is Her Snake-Handling Skills

Almost 20 years later, and it is still hard to forget Britney Spears’ performance with a python at 2001 MTV Video Music Awards. It was one of the most daring and dangerous moves she has made in all the years she’s been performing (because dancing with a live python around your neck can have complications), and it seems that her two sons have inherited Spears’ fearless nature.

She shared a photo on social media of one of her son’s holding a snake, and he seemed to be very calm while doing it — although the proud mama did hint that her snake-handling days were over, and she told fans she was “ready to run” at any moment.

12 Homework Is A Priority In This Household (Fun Can Come Later)

Even as adults we sometimes struggle to find a balance between work and play, but for parents, it is their responsibility to determine their children’s priorities. And in Britney Spears’ household, doing school work is high on that list.

As mentioned earlier, Spears told People (via Billboard) that she makes sure her sons get all their homework done (and she’s on-hand if they need help), but she also spoke about how she manages to keep them motivated. "We have a reward system that helps motivate them: if they get so many As, they get one toy a month," she said.

11 They Have Four Other Siblings From Their Dad’s Side Of The Family

Sean Preston and Jayden James are very close in age, and this has allowed them to grow up with a best friend. It helps that they also appear to share a lot of interests, from art to skateboarding.

But they actually have a bigger family than most people realize, because their father, Kevin Federline, is a dad to six children, meaning that these boys have four other siblings. And if you were wondering how Federline is as a dad, it appears he is a pretty good one.

"Britney knows the boys are safe and happy and well taken care of with him," an insider told Entertainment Tonight in 2019. "This is truly a loving family that works together…”

10 And Their Aunt, Jamie Lynn Spears, Has Praised Them For Being So Nice To Their Cousin, Maddie

Britney Spears and her younger sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, have a big age-gap between them, yet Britney’s sons and Jamie Lynn’s daughter, Maddie, are very close in age (because she was a teen mom). The siblings have a close relationship, and apparently, so do their children because Jamie Lynn has praised Sean Preston and Jayden James for being such sweet cousins.

She told Glamour in 2012: “Maddie’s biggest concern in life is when she gets to see her cousins next. She’s always asking, ‘Why can’t we have Preston and JJ here?’ They’re very close. They’re like brothers and sister…”

9 Britney Has Had A Few Serious Relationships, And Her Sons Have Bonded With These Men

After Kevin Federline and Britney Spears split, she has gone on to have several serious relationships. Some of the more memorable ones include Jason Trawick, whom she dated from 2009 to 2013 (per Billboard), David Lucado from 2013 to 2014, and Charlie Ebersol from 2014 to 2015. Now she is dating Sam Asghar, and has been since the end of 2016.

These relationships were not flings, so her sons would have gotten to know the men in their mother’s life — the photo above shows Spears, Asghar, and her sons, watching a basketball game in 2017.

8 Sean Preston And Jayden James Have A Bit Of A Sweet Tooth (But Then Again, Who Doesn’t)

Jayden James and Sean Preston have been photographed by the paparazzi throughout their lives, and it doesn’t matter what they are doing because their outings with their mom are of interest to someone, and therefore end up making headlines. But these photos have also offered a glimpse into their lives, for example, they have been photographed multiple times eating ice-cream, so it may not be a stretch to assume they have a bit of a sweet tooth (then again, who doesn’t).

Some parents choose not to give their children sugar, but apparently, Britney Spears is not one of them.

7 They’ve Had The Opportunity To See Some Amazing Places, Thanks To Their Mom

One of the major pros of being a celebrity and having virtually unlimited wealth and opportunities is that it makes travel a lot more accessible. Britney Spears has had to travel for work commitments and events, but she also likes to get away when she has time off, and she takes her sons with her. This has given them the chance to see some of the most beautiful places in the world, and experience what life is like in many different cities.

The family’s sightseeing adventures have often been photographed, and Spears’ boys are definitely well-traveled.

6 They Also Share Their Home With Adorable (And Pretty Spoiled) Pet Pooches

Britney Spears is a mom to two boys, but she is also a dog mom.

According to the AACAP, children can benefit from having pets because “developing positive feelings about pets can contribute to a child's self-esteem and self-confidence.” We know that Spears loves her dogs immensely, and it is likely that her sons feel the same way.

Spears has spoken about her beloved pets on social media — there was a time she posted a hilarious video about their dog eating all the cheese, Self notes. And according to Business Insider, in one year alone, Spears spent almost $30,000 on her dogs. She favors small breeds (with adorable names) and according to StarChanges, her dogs have been Chihuahuas, Yorkshire terriers, and a Maltese named Lacy Loo.

5 Hardworking And Talented, These Boys Make Their Mom Proud Every Day

Britney Spears is the type of mom who celebrates her children’s achievements, and she does so both privately and publicly.

Being a mom is a very big part of Spears' life, and she chooses to share this with fans. “I'm so grateful for my wonderful boys!!! I couldn't be more proud of them!!” she captioned two photos, one of Jayden James, and another of Sean Preston.

This is not the first time Spears has spoken about how happy motherhood has made her, nor the first time she has told her children she is proud of them because she often posts photos of their artwork.

4 Sean Preston And Jayden James Have Experimented With Their Hair Styles (And Their Mom Gives Them This Freedom)

Britney Spears’ appearance has changed over the years, but for the most part, she has stuck to her signature blonde locks. But, just because she doesn’t favor blue or purple (although she clearly tried it out at one point), does not mean that the same rules apply to her sons, and she has allowed them the freedom to experiment with their hairstyles — and they’ve opted for some very bold, colorful looks.

Sean and Jayden are growing up fast, and their willingness to try out new looks is further proof of that. Luckily for them, they have a mom who is totally down with change.

3 They Have Impressive Wardrobes That Have A Certain Cool Factor About Them

When your mom is a celebrated pop star and your dad has also made a name for himself in the entertainment industry as a dancer, it's possible that you would have some serious cool points in the eyes of your peers. There is no way of knowing if Jayden and Preston’s friends think their mom and dad are cool, but they have a sort of cool factor, at least when it comes to their wardrobes.

Britney Spears has shared several photos of her sons online, but one of Jayden’s most stylish moments happened when he was a kid. He was photographed wearing a hat and a checked collared-shirt while getting frozen yogurt with his mama in 2010.

2 Britney Feels Blessed To Be A Mom To Such Great Sons

Britney Spears’ sons are lucky to have her, but the feeling is definitely mutual because she has expressed on social media how she is “a very blessed and lucky mommy.”

Together, Spears and Kevin Federline have raised two boys who are genuinely nice young people. A family insider told People, that Jayden and Sean are “very smart and very polite.” Adding, “They both do well in school,” and during the week they stay busy with school, after-school activities like sports, and homework — which makes them sound like they have an incredibly normal childhood.

1 They’ve Met Many A-Listers, And Nick Jonas Is Among These Stars

Jayden and Sean Preston have been photographed with musicians like Skrillex and Nick Jonas, and although we have no idea who their favorite artist is, or if they still approve of their mom’s music now — she did tell Flaunt magazine in 2016, that although she doesn’t listen to her own music, her children do. What we do know, is that Britney Spears’ position in the music industry has allowed her offspring to meet a lot of famous people.

She shared this photo of her boys and Nick Jonas on social media in 2017 (so the meeting was obviously a memorable one) and wrote “woo hoo” in the caption.

Sources: MTV, FamousBirthdays, CelebHeights, Britney Spears Instagram, The Mirror, Huffington Post, Billboard, Entertainment Tonight, Glamour, Who's Dated Who, Self, Business Insider, StarChanges, AACAP, Zimbio, People, Flaunt.