“I wish the experience upon no one, but the lessons upon everyone.”
- Mara Harris, Founder
After our founder, Mara Harris’, then husband unexpectedly said he wanted a divorce and left, Mara was left shocked and faced with a series of questions: How and why is this happening? How do I choose a divorce attorney? What do I do? What do I not do?
Mara reflected on how common divorce is, yet realized no one in her family or social circle could relate, and she was left feeling an overwhelming sense of isolation.
It wasn’t until Mara met other women who had been through or were going through divorce that she began to feel less alone. This connection sparked the idea for The Real First Wives Club.
The Real First Wives Club is for women who have faced an unexpected divorce, left a marriage due to an unsafe environment, or experienced the sudden death of a spouse.
While Mara’s journey stems from her divorce, she also connected with widows and quickly recognized the shared experiences between divorcees and widows. Both groups find themselves grappling with a profound sense of loss, navigating an overwhelming, emotional, and uncertain process, all while needing to rebuild their lives without the partner they once envisioned their future with.
Despite how common divorce and death are, those who go through unexpected loss know just how isolating and lonely it can be.
Our goal is two-fold:
One: To help women take the guesswork out of what to do (and not to do) immediately by providing non-state-specific advice from experts like divorce and family attorneys, estate planners, accountants, therapists, and more. Beyond the immediate, women will have access to a list of trusted professionals recommended by the community based on their own experiences.
Two: To create a community where women can connect with and create friendships with other women who have been through similar experiences. We want to connect women with other women so they feel less alone as they navigate the journey and start to re-built their life. Podcasts are great and educational, but community and connection is critical.