When I Married My Mother: A Daughter's Search for What Really Matters -- and How She Found It Caring for Mama Jo: a Daughter's Search for What Really Matters -- and How She Found It Caring for Mama Jo

Jo Maeder was a not-so-young DJ on a decidedly youth-driven New York City radio station when a series of crises led her to do the unthinkable: move to the Bible Belt��Greensboring,� North Carolina�to care for her ailing, estranged, hoarder mother. Everyone predicted Operation Mama Jo would be a disaster. Jo�s therapist suspected Rescuer Syndrome�and her mother could not be rescued. Jo�s friends staged an intervention. Even Mama Jo wasn�t sure it would work. Jo�s roller-coaster ride with the unforgettable Mama Jo and her enormous doll collection, Jo�s born-again brother, the laid-back South, and first-time home ownership�plus a few drag queens along the way�proved to be a magical, hilarious, and, at times, heartbreaking antidote to heal a long-fractured family. Ultimately, Jo learned the meaning of true love, devotion, faith�and how to age gracefully without completely losing her Inner Teen. What she feared would be some of the worst years of her life turned out to be some of her best. And the same was true for Mama Jo. What Jo discovered most of all was that, if you�re not right with your Mama, you�re probably not going to be right with anyone. “This book is important to every mother and daughter, and to every woman who wants to be one.” Maya Angelou

Jo Maeder was a not-so-young DJ on a decidedly youth-driven New York City radio station (Z100) when a series of crises led her to do the unthinkable: leave New York City for the Bible Belt – “Greensboring,” North Carolina – to care for her estranged, eccentric “Mama Jo.” Everyone predicted Operation Mama Jo would be a disaster. Jo’s therapist suspected Rescuer Syndrome – and her mother could not be rescued. Jo’s friends staged an intervention. Even Mama Jo, who had been a distant presence in Jo’s life for three decades, had her doubts.

What Jo thought would be some of the worst years of her life turned out to be some of the best. And she discovered there’s nothing boring about Greensboro. Jo’s roller-coaster ride with the unforgettable Mama Jo and her enormous doll collection, Jo’s born-again brother, the laid-back South, and first-time home ownership – plus a few drag queens along the way – proved to be a magical, hilarious, and, at times, heartbreaking antidote to heal a long-fractured family.

This is an enhanced e-book of the 2009 hardcover edition that has been embraced by book clubs, transplanted Yankees, Southerners, religious and hospice organizations, and high school and college classrooms. Library Journal named WHEN I MARRIED MY MOTHER one of the top memoirs of the summer of 2009. Bonus material includes a Q&A with Ms. Maeder, caregiving tips, a guide for reading groups and classrooms, and two videos. An irreverent New York City DJ braces for disaster when she moves to the Bible Belt to care for her estranged, doll-obsessed, hoarder mother. What unfolds in this best-selling memoir is a hilarious, heartbreaking love story that sees eldercare and making peace with the past in a most unexpected way. Bonus material includes an author Q&A, Mama Jo's Favorite Cookie award-winning recipe, caregiving tips, discussion questions, and links to the trailer and short film "The Doll Dilemma" by Jacob Rosdail. Suitable for age 15+ Jo Maeder was a not-so-young DJ on a decidedly youth-driven New York City radio station when a series of crises led her to do the unthinkable: move to North Carolina to care for her ailing, estranged, pack-rat mother.