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Bringing Britney and her family back together, though, took more than a little doing. As the star's life spiraled further out of control, her family in Kentwood watched helplessly and worried for her safety. Lynne "has been really down about it," says one family friend. "You can tell that she's been thinking about it all the time, but she hasn't wanted to talk about it." After a while, Lynne couldn't even get a call through to her daughter.
"It's been very difficult for her family to watch" what's been happening with Britney, says another source close to the family. "They've wanted to see her. Any reluctance came from Britney." That all changed after an Oct. 1 ruling, which – ostensibly because of Britney's drug use and erratic parenting – ordered that Kevin Federline retain physical custody of their children until further notice. (She would be granted monitored visits two days later.) Britney's two closest friends and companions, Sam Lufti and Alli Sims, seized on the devastating decision to push for a family reunion. "Alli's been trying to convince Britney how important family is and how necessary it is for them all to be together during this time," says someone who has recently spent time with Spears. "Britney swallowed her pride and realized, 'I need my mom.' " Another Spears insider says, "Britney was hitting rock bottom, losing her kids and constantly needed people to be there for her, so Sam convinced her to see her mom. It's a step in the right direction. Britney wants some change." Lufti had even persuaded Lynne, who reportedly angered Britney by criticizing her skills as a mother, to get some counseling herself before the reunion.
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