We Want to like You, Britney! We Really Do!

Britney, Britney, Britney we want to like you, we really do! We are trying so hard! We wanted to be Britney Spears when we were teenagers so much so that we dressed like you, wore little head microphones for Halloween, and lip synched to your music in little mini-concerts for our parents! You dated Justin Timberlake, and the two of you were the perfect pop star couple. We loved you, Britney, and we really want to again!

I'm not sure what the fascination is at this point with the life of Britney Spears. The gossip and drama has taken on a life of its own, sort of like a fungus that is growing and just won't stop. We can't avert our eyes from the wreckage no matter how hard we try. Will the courts give in and give Britney back her children just because she is (well, was) a superstar? Could we have imagined two years ago that Kevin Federline would be considered the better parent after their predictable divorce?

At any rate, most of us are rooting for you, Britney. We want to see you get help, get off drugs, and get your kids back. We truly believe that Kevin Federline is a weasel who was just after your money and wanted to take advantage of your status, but now he actually deserves to get a whopping child support check. Why, Britney, why? Those of us who have children can't understand how you can just walk away, Britney. Why are drugs so much more important than those babies? Children are not possessions; you don't own them. They were kind of "rented out" to you, and you have to make sure that when they turn 18, they aren't damaged goods when you set them out into the world.

At this point, it seems that while Britney is "kind of" working to get her children back (at least she showed up in court), she doesn't seem to be truly doing what needs to be done to make that happen. The parenting coach is reportedly frustrated at Britney's lack of interest in the children and that Britney ignored her as she tried to do her job. Britney also reportedly agreed to the required drug testing, but there's no word yet on if it happened or what the results are. We're rooting for you, Britney! But at least being on drugs would explain your wild and crazy behavior of late. If all the tests come back negative, we're not sure what we should believe.

As far as that MTV awards debacle, Britney, I hate to say it, but we all knew how it was going to turn out. We hoped it would be the beginning of a true comeback, but we expected that it would be disastrous. We wanted you to practice, know your moves, look hot (we all thought you were well on your way), and nail the performance so firmly that you got a standing ovation. Instead, you partied all weekend, showed up late or ditched rehearsals, fought with your wardrobe and hair stylists, and totally bombed the whole thing. You're not even trying, Britney, but you expect us to want to follow you and love you. Relationships work both ways, sweetheart, and I think that's the one concept you are failing to grasp in both your personal and professional lives.

You have new music out, Britney, and we're all pulling for you there too. I'm not sure, though, that your new stuff is going anywhere. Your new tunes seem to be much like your old ones. You need to reinvent yourself; show that you've matured. Appeal to a slightly older crowd, not the teens of today who were too young to ever be real fans of yours. When you say, "I'm Britney, bitch," it's almost a joke. Four years ago, that line would have had us screaming in the aisles. Today, though, nobody cares that you're Britney, and don't dare call us bitch, bitch! (Just kidding!)

You're a mom now, Britney. You talked about having children way back when you were still with Justin; you wanted a big family, remember? These children should be your dream, not drugs, shopping, Starbucks, sex, and partying! So, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, get yourself clean, remember who your fans are (we will come back if you ask us the right way), and get your children back. After that, everything will fall back into place. Because, Britney, we are trying, we just want to know that you are too.