I stood on the stairway of my home, in the shadows of their whispers; listening to the influences of bad association. They were discussing/planning their survival strategies. I didn't like what I heard. I knew I had to do something and soon. That night I prayed. As a single mom, I thought staying close to my children would encourage them to choose a more productive lifestyle. I was wrong. No matter how hard I tried, outside influences seem to have a stronger and more intriguing grip. But I refused to give up without a fight. That's when I decided to tell them about my past, my journey on the road of survival. Yes, I told them -- almost everything. They listened, but didn't believe. To them I was a mother on a pedestal; a loving mom that made cupcakes for the school sale and went to almost every PTA meeting. Still, I was the same mom journeying on dangerous roads to survive. That's when I realized that I, they, needed a visual -- TACT -- Do What You Gotta Do, When You Gotta Do It.