kevin federlineKevin Federline was reportedly surprised that he was awarded sole custody of his children with Britney Spears.

The former dancer initially challenged the singer for custody of the boys when their marriage ended in November 2006 but he is said to have been generally happy with their joint physical and legal custody arrangement - and it was only Britney’s out-of-control behaviour last year that caused the courts to reduce her access to sons Sean and Jayden.

Kevin has now been awarded full custody of the boys, who turn 3 and 2 respectively in September, after Britney’s legal team thought it would be a risk to let the case go to trial in light of her current conservatorship. But a source close to Kevin has said that it isn’t really want he wanted.

The source told Closer magazine: “Kevin loves his sons, but he didn’t aim for sole custody.

“He wanted to be a co-parent and didn’t expect Britney not to fight for custody.

“He never wanted full responsibility. He believes both parents should take an active role. It’s tough being a single parent, plus he already has another two children.”

In related news, Britney’s parenting skills have come under fire again after photos, believed to have been taken at her Studio City home earlier in the month, showed her smoking in front of older son Sean while he plays with the pack of cigarettes and her lighter.

A source said: “She’s watching him playing with them here but what happens in the future when she’s not around to watch? She didn’t even tell him off for playing with them, she just took them from him and lit another [to smoke].”