We had the good fortune of connecting with Christine Burkhart and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I always like to think of this question as my “why”! The recipe was simple. I believe that God has placed a gift in me and I have always dreamed of having a place like Building Connections, but didn’t know how that would manifest! I am an adult with ADHD. I am also a parent of a child with ADHD and anxiety. AND…I am a professional in the field of teaching, coaching, and nurturing neurodiverse learners and their caregivers. Wa-la! Building Connections! As I was working supporting identified preschoolers with special needs in my community, I began to pay close attention to the need. I have taught for many years but there was a shift happening. More and more children were having deficits with social communication and language, emotional skill development and regulation, and social engagement/play. It’s not that they haven’t before, but children were really struggling in the home, school and community with relationships and navigating their everyday environments. I felt as if I was giving children “floaties”(supports in the classroom, modeling for teachers strategies for them to use after I left) and then throwing them in the deep end of the pool and saying, “You’re doing great! Heres another float! “, which worked temporarily; however, I noticed that I needed to teach children explicitly the skills they needed first, then provide numerous opportunities to practice and implement. Give these children immediate and positive feedback in order for them to develop the skill set! I was burdened by children exhibiting significant behaviors-getting kicked out of places, being shamed, seeing overwhelmed families and providers in tears not knowing what the next steps should be as they have exausted every resource. As a mom, I also had experienced the same emotions and frustration. So I said, “Enough.I got you. I hear you ” My personal, professional, and mama heart went to work, developing a structure, environments, and spaces where kids can feel safe and confidently develop skills with peers that allow them to thrive in any environment! Helping others develop, deepen, and maintain healthy relationships is at the heart of it all-with children, families, and communities! Building Connections has grown tremendously, and my dream has come true-we now have a 12 acre farm-integrating nature, animals, and people-all working together to provide safety, confidence, and most of all hope! I would never thought this would be possible, but God always has a plan! My faith, experience, knowledge, and relationships got me here!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have always been the kind of person who connects with others. My children (18 and 21 now) have always gotten embarrassed by me because I talk to EVERYONE- grocery clerk, people on the street, waitresses, EVERYONE! I love people. I see them for who they are immediately. I believe God gave me 2 ears and one mouth for a reason and want to hear and feel what others feel first, then talk! I have walked through almost every position in this field from babysitter, floater, assistant teacher, general ed/special ed teacher, admin, child service coordinator- and through those roles, I have experienced many things-good/bad/ugly-that has shaped me to who I am today. But the one role that has shaped me the most is my role as a mom. The experience I have had in raising my neurodivergent son has had its ups and downs- some celebratory, some gut wrenching, some so happy that I couldn”t be more proud and happy, some so frustrating that I sat in my closet and cried. Those moments…give me a perspective as a professional and as a human that allows me to stand WITH people and say, “It’s gonna be ok.” Big people and little people. All people. Connection is the direction. That I feel is what sets me a part. I am not clinical. I do not claim to know everything. I am not the smartest person in the room. BUT…I do know a little bit of child development. I do know a little bit of neuroscience. I do know a little bit of best practices. and I do know a little bit of IEP/504s. And if I don’t know, I will find someone who does! A little bit goes a long way! I also have always been a dreamer..big picture! So I tell my kids, teens, parents, teachers, and providers…keep dreaming! If it isn’t scary, it isn’t big enough!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well since having the farm, we have some amazing eggs-so I would cook a big breakfast -as that is my speciality-french toast casserole(I am from the south so we love casseroles), or eggs and bacon with juice. Then we would hop in the car and drive to Beaufort, NC as that is where my inlaws live and my happy place is at the beach! We would visit all the Front street places and pack a picnic lunch to take to Shackleford banks! Then once back to Raleigh , first stop…tacos. Chido Taco. Everyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE MEXICAN food! Since my best friend is Mexican, she would probably be so proud of me choosing an authentic Mexican place:) We may check out a Carolina Hurricanes game and eat lots of popcorn as that is my second favorite thing to eat! Maybe a show at the Raleigh Performing Arts Center or D-PAC as I love a musical, and other side note- I love to sing-its my ADHD that kicks in and its not like singer singer, its like music makes me happy…I make up songs and sing them because I am a teacher ya know, and a HUGE theatre/musical fan! Then maybe check out the farm and head to The County Line Gas and Grocery where they have the best grill food! Yes it is a gas station, but small town-best people -best food you can ask for! I would love to visit the Virgin Islands, Iceland, and Greece- in that order:) They are on my bucket list!
I should get out more, but running a business and now a business on a farm is time consuming, so I don’t get out as much as I used to but that is where I would go!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people! I would say my son, Jackson who is my “why”. My daughter Julia, who is my cheerleader and encourager. My husband Chris, who is my rock and believer and when I say, “I have an idea…rolls his eyes and says, OK…what now! and no matter what it is…he is always there to support me, even when I have crazy big ideas/dreams!SO many colleagues in this community that have walked with me and encouraged me -from Dr. Emily King, Stacey Kohn, Dr. Meredith Hickory, Elizabeth Worley and Edla Privette! MY AMAZING STAFF!!!!!!!!!! What rockstars! who jumped on the wild and crazy train with me and said, we believe in this, lets gooo! Sarah Wetherington and Suzann Novak are my team leaders that i can always count on!

The amazing children and families we have and currently do , and will support! The relationships we have are forever. We call them BC family because once you are with us, you never really leave, you are family…you just fly!

Website: www.buildingconnectionsnc.com

Instagram: buildingconnectionsllc

Facebook: BuildingConnectionsNC

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