Scary Mommy
American website for mothers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Scary Mommy is a website that produces content targeting mothers, specifically focusing on parenting, motherhood, current events, and pop culture. The site is owned by Bustle Digital Group, and the website is based in New York City.[1] Scary Mommy began as Jill Smokler's personal blog. The site peaked around 2009-2015.
| |
Website type | Online media |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Founded | March 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Headquarters | 20 W 22nd St Ste 301, New York City, New York, United States |
Country of origin | United States |
| Owner | Bustle Digital Group |
| Founder | Jill Smokler |
| Editor | Kate Auletta |
| Revenue |  $6.8 million (2025) |
| Website | www |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | No |
| Current status | Active |
| Native client on | Web browser |
History
Scary Mommy was founded in March 2008 by Jill Smokler (1977–2026) in Baltimore, Maryland. A companion book titled Confessions of a Scary Mommy was published by Smokler in April 2012 and became an instant bestseller. Scary Mommy Nation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was established by Smokler in 2013, which raised money for families who weren't able to afford a Thanksgiving dinner. In 2014, the website and its service earned its first Webby Award in the "Family/Parenting" category, which was then followed by additional Webby Awards in 2015 and 2018.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
In February 2015, the website was acquired by Some Spiders Studios, with Smokler staying on as chief content officer for the next three years. In March 2017, Smokler announced her split from her husband.[9] Smokler left Scary Mommy in May 2018. In 2020, Some Spider Studios acquired Fatherly, and in 2021, Bustle Digital Group acquired Some Spider.[1][10][11][12]
On June 22, 2026, Smokler died of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, at the age of 48.[13][14]