Jill Smokler, the founder of the popular parenting website Scary Mommy, has died at the age of 48 after a two-year battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Her death was announced on Monday on the Scary Mommy website and via Instagram.
Smokler launched Scary Mommy in March 2008 as a blog to share the experiences of parenting. The site grew into a major parenting brand, known for its honest and often self-deprecating approach to motherhood. Smokler's work earned her a significant following, leading to speaking engagements at blogging conferences, the authorship of bestselling books, appearances on national television, and three Webby Awards.
Her family released a statement following her passing, stating, "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." They added, "She was funny, fearless, generous and entirely herself. More than anything she built, Jill was proudest of her three children, Lily, Ben and Evan. We are heartbroken to lose her, and endlessly proud of the mark she left on the world."
Smokler's first indication of the disease occurred in April 2024 with a sudden seizure. This was followed by surgery to remove a brain tumor. In a previous interview, she shared that after the surgery, she did not recognize her own children, a memory she expressed gratitude for not having.
Glioblastoma is the most common type of malignant primary brain tumor in adults and is considered one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer, with no known cure. According to the American Brain Tumor Association, glioblastomas account for approximately 13.9% of all brain tumors, with over 12,000 new cases diagnosed annually in the U.S. Even with treatment, the median survival time after diagnosis is about 12 to 18 months, and only about 5% to 7% of patients survive for five years.
Following her initial surgery, Smokler underwent radiation and chemotherapy, during which she openly discussed side effects like fatigue and hair loss. Subsequent surgeries and participation in clinical trials followed.
Smokler, originally from Baltimore, Maryland, was the mother of three children: Lily, Ben, and Evan. Her initial blog gained significant traction, leading to the publication of a New York Times bestselling companion book, "Confessions of a Scary Mommy," in 2012. The Scary Mommy website was acquired by Some Spiders Studios in 2015, and Smokler served as chief content officer until 2018. The site is currently owned by Bustle Digital Group, which acquired Some Spider Studios in 2021.