Britney slammed for chaotic parenting

LOS ANGELES, Oct 31 (Reuters) Pop singer Britney Spears barely played or spoke with her two young sons during a court-ordered visit by a parenting coach, who said their home life ''ranged from chaotic to almost somber with little communication at all.'' According to court documents released yesterday, in which Spears failed to regain joint custody, the parenting coach said Spears clearly loved Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

But the coach said Spears ''rarely engaged with the children in conversation or play'' and said the boys had no real schedule or routine.

''It seems that her choices are dependent more upon what she (Spears) wants to do at any given time rather than what would be more enjoyable for the children,'' the parenting coach said in her report.

Spears, 25, lost custody of the boys to her ex-husband Kevin Federline on October 1 after she failed to comply with court-ordered drug and alcohol testing. The couple have been fighting over visitation arrangements ever since.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon ruled on Tuesday that Spears can visit her sons three times a week with a monitor and must submit to drug and alcohol testing twice a week.

Spears was also told to child-proof the pool at her home. A full evaluation is expected in mid-January.

Gordon's ruling came on the day Spears released her first full studio album in four years. ''Blackout'' met with generally warm reviews and her new single ''Gimme More'' is playing strongly on radio and digital download charts.

Spears, Federline and their attorneys met with Gordon on Friday to discuss custody and hear progress reports on court-ordered joint counseling.

The couple were told to work out schedules for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and Spears was told to continue meetings with the parenting coach once a week.

Spears and Federline split a year ago after two years of marriage. The life of the former pop princess, who started life as a Disney Channel child star, has since spiraled out of control.

She hit the Hollywood party circuit, shaved her head, spent time in drug and alcohol rehabilitation, fired her managers and became estranged from her mother Lynne.

A religious publisher said last week that Lynne Spears is to write her own book about how she raised her three children.

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