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Elisabeth  S.

Elisabeth Stitt

  • Wheaton College Logo

    Wheaton College

  • Joyful Parenting Coaching Logo

    Joyful Parenting Coaching

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Elisabeth Stitt is a parenting coach and the founder of Joyful Parenting Coaching, known for bringing clarity and calm to families navigating an increasingly complex world—especially during major transitions like divorce and shared custody. With more than 25 years of experience as an educator, primarily at the middle school level, Elisabeth witnessed firsthand how rising anxiety, pressure, and confusion were affecting children and their parents. What stood out most was not a lack of care, but a lack of practical, trustworthy tools—something divorced and single dads often feel acutely. Her transition from the classroom into parent coaching was driven by a simple belief: parenting does not have to feel overwhelming, guilt-ridden, or adversarial. Elisabeth helps parents—particularly fathers navigating life after divorce—move beyond fear-based advice and short-term fixes, guiding them instead toward skill-building that supports long-term growth. Her work emphasizes clear expectations, emotional regulation, and strong connection, helping parents feel steady and confident rather than constantly second-guessing themselves. What sets Elisabeth apart is her ability to bridge research with real life. She approaches parenting as a learnable, evolving skill, not a set of rigid rules. One defining moment involved a bright student labeled as a behavior problem whose struggles stemmed from inconsistent parenting across two households. When both parents aligned around clarity and consistency, his confidence and behavior shifted dramatically—reinforcing Elisabeth’s belief that supporting parents is essential to helping children thrive. Today, through Joyful Parenting Coaching, Elisabeth has supported hundreds of families and thousands of students. Her work leaves parents—especially divorced dads—feeling capable, grounded, and equipped to raise kind, resilient, and independent children, even during life’s most challenging transitions.

Work with Elisabeth

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Why do I coach?

I coach divorced dads because compared to other parenting populations, they do not get enough support. There are countless books and resources for people parenting with a partner. There are even lots of resources to support women going through divorce. Not so true for divorced dads--especially not concrete, focused support on how to create a safe, stabile home for their kids despite going back and forth between two households. Also, I find that dads are more likely to doubt their importance to their kids at this stage. When my second husband was battling with his ex-wife, he often questioned whether it wouldn't just be better for the kids to reduce conflict by giving in to her. I kept reminding him how how very critical a dad is to kids' development and that if he stopped pushing, his kids would not see it as being in their interest but as him abandoning them. My mission is to strengthen dads' competence and confidence, so they are creating an environment where their kids will thrive.

Work Experience

Jewish Family and Children's Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties Logo

Parent Coach

Jewish Family and Children's Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties

July 2022 - Present

Providing parenting webinars/courses and parent consultations through JFCS for the Center for Youth and Children (aka Parents Place in Palo Alto).

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Published Book Author

Parenting as a Second Language

March 2016 - Present

Parenting is a skill. Just like learning a foreign language, it can be taught, learned and practiced! That's where Parenting as a Second Language, A Guidebook for Joyfully Navigating the Trials, Triumphs and Tribulations of Parenthood comes in. It combines anecdotes from the author's extensive experience with children with exercises that any parent can do to become more effective. Elisabeth is also a lively and engaging speaker who breaks down parenting into can-do steps that parents can go home and put into practice. Use the book as a guide for self study or attend an in-person event to learn * How to name yourself an effective parent, and make that true * How to connect warmly with your children • The role empathy plays in effective parenting * How focusing on the process and not the measurable numbers actually gets you farther * How to use family meetings so that your whole family's needs are met * How to use adages we all know to instill the values most important to you * How to derive joy from life's most challenging role

Joyful Parenting Coaching Logo

Parenting Coach and Educator

Joyful Parenting Coaching

June 2014 - Present

Parenting is a skill. It used to be modeled and taught by family members and neighbors when we lived in close-knit communities. People were constantly around kids and expected to take care of kids from the time they were kids themselves. Today I work with many clients who never held an infant until they held their own baby. Then new parents go back to work where colleagues don't stand around comparing parenting notes. That's where Parenting Coaching comes in. Since parenting is not something we know how to do innately, today, good parents turn to professionals for support. Yes, there is a ton of information online, but often that information is contradictory or doesn't seem to apply to your own child. Working one-on-one or in a group setting with a parenting coach provides the perfect combination of professional advice and an intimate connection so the advice can be tailored to what your family needs. Do you want to become a more effective parent? Stop nagging, yelling and arguing with your kids? Re-energize your commitment to your spouse and your children? Defuse power struggles and get cooperation? That's the promise of using a Elisabeth Stitt as your coach: With one phone call a week, you can TRANSFORM your parenting. Release the stress that builds up weekly so that you can apply strategies to become more effective and then focus on your long term vision, becoming your best parenting self. Go to www.elisabethstitt.com. Sign up for Joyful Parenting Coaching's weekly newsletter and then go to https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/know-you-intro-call to sign up for a complimentary Getting to Know You call.

Redwood City School District Logo

Classroom Teacher and Outreach Specialist

Redwood City School District

September 1993 - June 2014

In 20 years of teaching in the Redwood City School District, I served students in grades K-8. Although primarily a Language Arts teacher at the middle school level at North Star Academy, the work I valued most was developing Character Education classes and services and working with students and families as North Star's Outreach Teacher. Children are not ready to learn until they feel safe, secure and happy. It is the first job of any adult working with children to establish a warm, caring connection. That was my main goal as a teacher, as an outreach specialist, and as a caring adult on campus.

Education

Universität Hamburg Logo

Universität Hamburg

Junior Year Abroad, German Studies

1986 - 1987

Wheaton College Logo

Wheaton College

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), English, German, Education

1984 - 1988

Grade: Magna Cum Laude Activities and societies: Phi Beta Kappa, Glee Club, Writing Tutors Writing Tutor, Glee Club Member, Education Department Admin

The Co-Active Training Institute - CTI Logo

The Co-Active Training Institute - CTI

Coaching certification, coaching

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