Remembering Scary Mommy's Founder
Jill Smokler, Founder of Popular Scary Mommy Parenting Blog, Dies at 48 After Battle with Brain Cancer
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Jill Smokler, the founder of parenting blog Scary Mommy and a New York Times bestselling author, died on June 22, 2026, at her home in Baltimore. She was 48. The cause was glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable brain cancer she was diagnosed with in April 2024, TMZ and The Baltimore Banner reported.
Her family said in a statement: "Jill spent her life telling the truth about motherhood — that it could be wonderful and impossible in the very same breath — and in doing so, she gave millions of women permission to stop pretending and feel a little less alone," according to Scary Mommy.
A Blog Built on Radical Honesty About Motherhood
Smokler launched Scary Mommy on March 21, 2008, from her Baltimore home while raising three children under the age of four, according to The Midst. At the time, most parenting blogs painted a perfect picture of family life. Smokler did the opposite. She wrote about boredom, frustration, and the messy parts of raising kids — and millions of mothers recognized themselves in her words.
The blog's name came from her son Ben. After watching a movie, he declared everything — including his mom — was "scary," The Midst reported. What started as a personal outlet grew into a media powerhouse. By 2015, the site reached over 10 million monthly readers. At its peak, the Scary Mommy brand reached more than 100 million people monthly across social platforms, according to Forbes.
From Personal Blog to a Multi-Million Dollar Brand
In February 2015, Some Spider Studios acquired Scary Mommy. Smokler stayed on as Chief Content Officer. In 2021, Bustle Digital Group bought the brand and still owns it today, Wikipedia reported. The site reported an estimated revenue of $6.8 million in 2025, with the broader parent group generating between $25 million and $50 million annually.
In April 2012, Smokler published her book Confessions of a Scary Mommy, which became a New York Times bestseller. She also founded Scary Mommy Nation, a non-profit that provided Thanksgiving dinners to families in need. Smokler stepped down from the blog in May 2018 to pursue new projects, including a podcast called She's Got Issues, aimed at Gen X women navigating divorce, aging, and health.
A 26-Month Fight Against a Lethal Brain Cancer
After suffering a seizure in April 2024, Smokler was diagnosed with glioblastoma. Only 7% of patients with the disease live beyond five years. The average life expectancy after diagnosis is just 12 to 18 months. Smokler lived for approximately 26 months, according to Baltimore Magazine and Today.com.
She faced the diagnosis publicly, sharing her journey on social media with the same dark humor that built her career. In the summer of 2025, she traveled to Germany to take part in an experimental mRNA vaccine trial designed to target glioblastoma cells, The Baltimore Banner reported. Her family asked that memorial donations go to the Brain Tumor Network.
A Legacy That Reshaped How Mothers Talk Online
Friends and media analysts credited Smokler with changing the way women speak about parenthood. Julianna W. Miner, an author and friend, called her "a foundational element in how social media and influencer culture were formed," according to The Baltimore Banner. Parenting writer Joey Fortman said Smokler "gave us a place to live through postpartum depression — a community of acceptance without apologies."
Smokler is survived by her three children: Lily, a recent Boston University graduate; Ben, a student at the University of Pittsburgh; and Evan, an incoming freshman at Wesleyan University. Her ex-husband Jeff Smokler, who remained a close support during her illness, also survives her, according to The Midst and Parade.
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