Britney Spears’ decision to cut all ties from her mother, Lynne Spears, may have been triggered by an argument between the two over caring for Britney’s two boys that quickly degenerated into a “shocking slapfest.”

A source at MSNBC says that the incident took place in mid June and “left Lynne shaken and Britney more determined than ever to cut her mother out of her life for good.”

The story goes, Britney invited Lynne to her house on the weekend of June 15. Trouble began when Lynn “insisted on taking the kids out to spend some private time with them,” said the insider. “She didn’t ask or suggest, she demanded! Then she began denigrating Britney’s mothering skills and losing her temper at the same time!”

This all lead, of course, to Britney serving her own mother with legal papers, asking her to stay away from her kids if she is taking any medications that would impair her ability to be around them.

Meanwhile, the New York Post reports that the 26-year-old songstress has become her own manager and publicist. Yep, she’s finally taking control of her own career.

Someone stop her!