Britney Spears wishes she could pause time.
The "Lucky" artist got emotional in a new Instagram post on Friday, Oct. 22, while reflecting on what it's been like to watch her two teenage sons grow up.
She shares custody of Sean Preston Federline, 16, and Jayden James Federline, 15, with ex-husband Kevin Federline, and although the boys still have a few more years before leaving the nest, Britney knows they'll always be her "babies."
"So bittersweet to see them get older," she wrote alongside throwback photos of the brothers enjoying a day at the beach with mom.
Britney asked, "why can't they just stay babies forever ??? They will always be MINE !!!!!" See the pics here.
The singer is usually private about her life with her sons, but Britney gave an update in September in honor of their birthdays. "Unfortunately they are growing up and want to do their own things," she wrote at the time. "I have to ask their permission to post them because they are extremely independent little men."
She also posted a quote that read, "There is nothing stronger than the love between a mother and a son."
Earlier this month, fans got a rare glimpse of Jayden and Sean—all grown up—when one of Kevin's friends shared a pic of the boys twinning in black jackets and white shirts. Eddie Morales, who is the CEO of Movision Entertainment, explained in his caption that he treats the teens like his "nephews."
"During times of grief knowing u have #family really feels worth living," Eddie wrote. "Talk bout seeing my nephews when they were pods smaller then [sic] my hands now look at #life."
With Britney now engaged to Sam Asghari, a source told E! News that he is very much a "part" of the boys' lives as well.
The insider said Britney and Sam act like a "family" with her sons, and Sam hopes the couple can have kids of their own.
"They have a good relationship and that's what matters," the source added of Sean and Jayden. "They really like Sam, and they like Sam for Britney, and he's been really supportive of them."
See more of Britney's cutest family moments below.
"It's so crazy how time flies .... My boys are so big now!!!!" Britney wrote in a March 2021 Instagram post. "I know … I know … it's very hard for any mama especially a mama with boys seeing them grow up so fast !!!! Talk about enough to make you go to your knees ... GEEZ !!!! I'm extremely lucky because my two babies are such gentleman and so kind that I must have done something right !!!! I haven't posted pictures of them for some time cause they're at the age where they want to express their own identities and I totally get it."
"Great time at Disneyland today .... but I don't remember ever getting that wet on splash mountain!!!" the "Stronger" star captioned an August 2019 Instagram photo series. "Geeez .... anyhow my boys are older now, so they don't like their picture taken ever... so I was thrilled today when they said SURE!!!!! Such a great place!!!!!"
Spears shared a video of arts and crafts time with her sons in 2018.
"Getting silly with my kids on our day off from tour!" the artist captioed the 2018 post.
"This was from our lil trip to see Aladdin," Spears captioned the 2018 photo. "What a great show!!!!"
"Love when we go to our favorite spot on Sundays," she wrote on Instagram in 2018. "The boys are bigger than me now!!!!!"
The family enjoyed a trip to London during Spears' Piece of Me Tour.
The boys and their mom did a little surfing during their 2017 trip to Hawaii.
"Going for a walk with my son and the dog always does wonders for my mood..." she wrote in 2017.
The dynamic duo saw some aquatic creatures in Las Vegas in 2016.
Spears and her boys celebrated Thanksgiving with their family members, including her sister Jamie Lynn Spears.
"Happy gobble gobble!" the Grammy winner writes in 2015.
The "Oops...I Did It Again" star celebrated July 4, 2015 at the Happiest Place on Earth.
The "Toxic" singer shared a picture of her enjoying "the mermaid life" in 2015.
Spears' boys are all grown up.
The artist's sons helped her hold up her surfboard at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards.
The terrific trio shared a sweet smile in this 2015 pic.
Look at these cuties!
The singer and her two boys went all out for Halloween 2014.
"I've got the two cutest boys in the world!" she captioned the 2013 pic. "I hope y'all are having as nice of a #mothersday as I am!"
The proud mama took her boys to see the Los Angeles premiere of Smurfs 2 in 2013.
The boys enjoyed a sweet treat with their mom at this 2013 game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres.
The singer took her sons to the Broadway production of The Lion King in 2011.