Britney Spears Says She Exchanged Her ‘Freedom’ for Access to Her Sons: ‘A Trade I Was Willing to Make’

Britney Spears reflects on the restrictions placed on her during her 13-year conservatorship.

In his new memoir The woman in mepop icon says she stopped challenging court-ordered custody – which gave her father Jamie and a lawyer control over her personal and financial affairs in 2008 after a public breakdown – so she could spend time with her children.

The “Hold Me Closer” singer writes that after being hospitalized twice for forced psychological evaluations, she tried to relinquish control of her life and her father Jamie Spears’ estate.

“After they kept me on the gurney, I knew they could control my body whenever they wanted,” Spears writes. “And so I went along with it.”

Jayden James, Britney Spears and Sean Preston in 2013 Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock Britney Spears reveals why she shaved her head and ‘acted’ in 2007 (Exclusive)

The superstar writes that she did what was asked of her in order not to ruin her chances of seeing her two sons, Sean Preston (18) and Jayden James (17), who she shares with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

“My freedom in exchange for sleeping with my kids — that was a trade I was willing to make,” Spears writes.

IN The woman in methe “Toxic” singer writes that she felt “robbed” of freedom and deprived ” [her] femininity” after she was placed under guardianship in 2008 following a public breakdown.

Her father served as her conservator for nearly 14 years until he was removed from that role in September 2021 after Spears gave fiery public testimony in which she advocated ending the conservatorship in June of that year. The conservatorship ends in November.

“Thirteen years have passed while I felt like a shadow of myself. Now I remember how my father and his associates have had control over my body and my money for so long, and it makes me feel sick,” Spears writes in the memoir, published exclusively in this week’s issue of PEOPLE.

The woman in me is Britney Spears. Britney Spears Says Dad Body Shamed Her During Conservatorship: ‘He Constantly Told Me I Looked Fat’ (Exclusive)

Before going out The woman in mepop star opened up to PEOPLE in an exclusive cover story about how she feels empowered to tell her own story for the first time.

In an email interview, she shared that even with her iconic music career, she’s still most proud of being mom to sons Sean Preston and Jayden James.

“My dream come true was to have a family,” she told PEOPLE of her sons, who now live with their father in Hawaii but have remained in touch with Spears. “Being a mom was my dream come true.”

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Britney Spears describes what it was like to live under the supervision of conservators: I became a ‘robot child’ (Exclusive)

Spears will release The woman in me October 24 through Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. It is now available for pre-order.

For an exclusive excerpt and interview with Britney Spears, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.

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Source: HIS Education