Larry Rudolph: "Britney Spears' kids are being well taken care of"

[AKAMissy]

COVER STORY: Britney's Kids 'Being Well Taken Care Of'

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2007 11:00 AM EST


While Britney Spears is in rehab, her two sons are in good hands. "The kids are being well taken care of," Spears's manager, Larry Rudolph, says of Sean Preston, 17 months, and Jayden James, 5 months, in PEOPLE's new cover story.

Last month Spears, 25, and estranged husband Kevin Federline, 28, agreed upon a temporary custody arrangement for the boys – Spears has primary custody and can designate someone to look after them in her absence; Federline gets visitation. So even with Spears in a treatment facility, the arrangement would stay "status quo," says Manhattan divorce attorney Nancy Chemtob.

Federline, meanwhile, has no plans to use the current situation against his soon-to-be ex, says a pal: "It's not about getting the kids away from Britney. He's just worried about making sure he can see them."

Indeed, a source says that days before Spears shaved her head at Esther's Haircutting Studio in Tarzana, Calif., Federline had urged her to seek treatment.

"Kevin wanted her to get help so she could be a good mother for their kids and not end up dead," says his friend. "He just couldn't take it anymore. He was desperate for her to get help."

And four days after her meltdown at Esther's, Spears did, in fact, check into rehab. "Britney has a terrific support system and a lot of people who love her," friend Connie Brabham tells PEOPLE. "We're all hoping this will work out for everyone."

Her support system includes:

LYNNE SPEARS
As a youngster, Spears had "a terrific relationship" with her mom, says former agent Nancy Carson. But a relative says: "Britney and Lynne have had some problems lately and they weren't speaking for a while." Now, though, they're talking again.

JAMIE LYNN SPEARS
Spears's little sister cried when she heard about the singer's meltdown over the weekend, says a friend. The two are tight; Spears calls Jamie Lynn, 15, frequently.

JAMIE SPEARS
Spears's dad has had his own battles with alcohol. A family member in Louisiana says Spears doesn't always stop by his home to say hello when she's in town, but Sunday night before she entered rehab, the two dined together and had "a heavy conversation."

KEVIN FEDERLINE
The two spoke by phone just before Valentine's Day, and he canceled plans to go to Las Vegas last weekend "to physically be in L.A. if Britney or the kids needed him," says a friend.

LARRY RUDOLPH
Her longtime manager parted ways with her after she wed Federline, then returned and orchestrated her well-received behavior when she filed for divorce. He helped with the intervention that led to rehab.


COVER STORY: Britney's Kids 'Being Well Taken Care Of' | Britney Spears : People.com

[darksithbunny]

HUH? Her mother has them? How come if this shit would have happened to me when my xhusband and I were going through a divorce, he would have gotten instant custody? We shared custody and so do they by law. Must be nice to be rich and famous. Laws don't apply to you.

[Born In A Brothel]

Federline, meanwhile, has no plans to use the current situation against his soon-to-be ex, says a pal: "It's not about getting the kids away from Britney. He's just worried about making sure he can see them."

Right. It's not about the kids. It's about how much money he can score off the divorce.

[lisalucy69]

Her manager also wants us to believe that 24 hrs in rehab is equal to be committed to getting help for an addiction. And Kevin should definitely get custody before the Spears family. They've already raised their kids to be their mealtickets, I don't think they have the best parenting skills themselves.

[Cate]

Originally Posted by darksithbunny

HUH? Her mother has them? How come if this shit would have happened to me when my xhusband and I were going through a divorce, he would have gotten instant custody? We shared custody and so do they by law. Must be nice to be rich and famous. Laws don't apply to you.

No sh*t. My ex would have had the kids in a heartbeat.

[DeChayz]

Being anywhere away from Britney is being "well taken care of"