Scary Mommy founder dies; religion faces shifting support
Digest Newsletter
·
Jun 23, 2026
Scary Mommy founder dies; religion faces shifting support
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A big, bittersweet day in parenting news — the founder of a household-name community passed away while families continue to wrestle with health, work, and screen-time pressures. On faith, a Gallup wake-up call meets a proactive response from missions leaders: fewer Americans see religion positively, but new resources are rolling out to train the next generation.
Parenting
Scary Mommy founder dies as parents grapple with health, work, and screens
The parenting world lost Jill Smokler, founder of Scary Mommy, who died at 48 after battling glioblastoma — a reminder of how real family grief shows up behind every viral post (ABC7). [P]Public-health gaps are turning blood tests into housing inspections in Milwaukee, leaving parents to shoulder prevention and advocacy when lead shows up in kids' screens and homes (Governing). Meanwhile, summer-care shortfalls and workplace inflexibility are costing families time and money, amplifying everyday parenting stressors many thought were solved long ago (Kelly Services).
Discipleship
Gallup shows waning goodwill toward religion; leaders answer with training
A new Gallup snapshot finds fewer women, Democrats, and young people seeing religion as a positive social force — a cultural headwind for discipleship efforts (Christian Post). [P]Mission leaders are pushing back with substance: the International Mission Board released 'Blueprint,' a course and book aimed at equipping the next generation for cross-cultural witness (Christian Index). At the same time, more than 400 new priests were ordained in the U.S. this year, a quiet but tangible sign of continued vocational commitment in local churches (OSV News).