Leslie Miner and her toddler son planted themselves on a sofa in their tiny Waipahu apartment for storytime — typical of their wind-down routine at the end of a long day at school and work.

The single mother, 22, read "My Big Play-Doh Word Book" in her gentlest voice, as a captivated 2-year-old looked on with big, brown eyes. Between pages, Miner showered her baby with Eskimo kisses and tummy tickles, all welcomed with infectious tiny giggles.

It's hard to tell — through the smiles and laughter — that Miner had an unstable upbringing, living in eight different foster homes as a teen; or that she endured nearly two years of what she described as a "very bad" relationship; or that she was homeless and living in a shelter with her infant nearly a year ago.

"She has come a long way," said Kathy Fetters, a family-support worker with Child and Family Service's Healthy Start Leeward program. "When I met her, she was very young and didn't have anything or anybody. ... Here she is today, a young woman fully engaged in her own studies in school and moving forward with her son."

Child and Family Service named Miner and her son, Ethan, its 'Ohana of the Year — a designation that honors families who have shown great progress on the issues they face with help from the agency. The family, who topped six other nominees statewide, will be recognized at a luncheon Oct. 18 at the Sheraton Waikiki hotel.

"The 'Ohana of the Year celebrates our mission of strengthening families and fostering the healthy development of children," said agency president and CEO Geri Marullo.

Miner, a full-time student at Honolulu Community College and the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, is proud of how far she and her son have come along, but she's overwhelmed with the recognition.

"It's like a dream, and I feel very honored," she said.

A HARD LIFE

Miner may be in a better place today, but the tough times of her past are still fresh memories.

Miner began living in foster homes when she was 13 years old.

She remained in foster care until she aged out of the system —"and basically was on her own," said Fetters, Miner's family-support worker. "She learned at a very young age how cruel and lonely life can be for any child living in the foster-care system."

Miner met Ethan's father when she was 17 and in high school. She hesitates to talk about her relationship with him; she'll only say that it was an unhealthy one that she had to get out of. When she ended the relationship, her son was two months old.

Miner and her son eventually ended up at a transitional shelter at Hale Kipa in 'Ewa.

Shortly after moving into the shelter, Miner and her son became participants of Healthy Start, a program for parents of newborns that provides home visits to families to address individual needs, set and support goals, and build a home environment around the baby that supports learning, safety and developmental stimulation.

"From the initial visit, I saw potential in her," said Fetters, who meets with the family twice a month. "I saw that she was willing to learn more about her baby, and despite all the problems that she had, she put baby first."

Miner constantly asked Fetters questions about her baby's growth, making sure that she was doing everything right to ensure her baby would grow up healthy and happy, Fetters said.

"Even though I had not planned on having a child, I knew in my heart that I was going to do all that I could to be a positive role model and that I would teach my son the things that were absent in my life," Miner said.

MOVING FORWARD

Miner is optimistic about what lies ahead for her family. They moved out of the shelter last year and now live in an apartment in Waipahu.

"She has made the choice to not let her past hinder her future," Fetters said. "She has taken on the responsibility of being the best she can be as a single parent and college student."

Miner consistently receives A's and B's on her report cards; in fall 2004, she earned straight A's. This year, Miner received an associate degree in liberal arts from Honolulu Community College.

She's continuing her schooling at the college and has enrolled in UH-Manoa. Miner is working toward a bachelor's degree in secondary education and hopes to become a math teacher.

"For me, I always knew I had no choice but to finish school," Miner said.

In addition to school, Miner works part time as a student assistant at HCC. While she's in classes or at her job, Ethan attends preschool on the HCC campus.

Back at Miner's apartment, while Ethan and Fetters played with building blocks on the living-room floor, Miner talked about the people she credits for her improved life: staff members with Hale Kipa and Child and Family Service, and supportive friends.

"Christianity has also helped me to overcome my negative feelings and to rejoice in the life that I have," said Miner, wearing a plumeria behind her right ear.

With a newfound self-worth, the sky's the limit for Miner.

"My experiences, my whole life made me the strong woman I am today," she said.

Reach Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com.