I walked into the empty apartment, my heart beating fast. "Mom? Mom? Where are you?" I called out, but there was only silence. I looked around, but I didn't see her anywhere. I felt scared and alone. I had to find her. She must be somewhere. I started searching every room, one by one. I checked the living room, the kitchen, and even my room. But Mom was nowhere to be found. I looked under my bed, in my closet, and even in the bathroom. Still, no Mom. As I searched, I noticed that everything was quiet and still. The clock on the wall was ticking, and the sun was shining through the windows. I remembered what Mom told me about how the Earth rotates and that's why we have day and night. But where was Mom? I took a deep breath and told myself to think. "I have to find her. She must be somewhere." I thought about all the places she could be. Was she in the park? At the store? With a friend? I didn't know, but I was determined to find out.

I quietly tiptoed into my room, my heart beating fast. I had to find Mom! I looked under my bed, but all I saw were dusty boxes and forgotten toys. I remember playing with those blocks just last week with Mom. Why couldn't I find her? I want my mom! I thought to myself, feeling a lump in my throat. Next, I checked my closet. It was dark and a bit spooky, but I knew Mom could be hiding in there. I pushed aside the hanging clothes and stepped inside. The closet was empty, except for a small piece of paper on the floor. I picked it up and saw a simple equation: 2 + 2 = ? I smiled, remembering how Mom taught me that 2 + 2 equals 4. Maybe this was a clue? Suddenly, I heard a faint humming noise coming from behind the closet wall. I pressed my ear against the wall and heard it clearer. It sounded like Mom's favorite song! I felt a surge of excitement and hope. Maybe she was hiding behind the wall? I started tapping on the wall, and to my surprise, a small door swung open. I took a deep breath and stepped into the unknown...

Lily sat at her desk, staring at the math problem in front of her. She was trying to solve for x, but her brain was all mixed up. Suddenly, tears began to well up in her eyes, and she let out a loud wail. "Waaaah! I want my mom!" she cried, feeling overwhelmed and sad. Her mom, who was in the next room making a special snack for Lily, rushed back into the room. "Oh, baby! I'm so sorry. I was in the next room the whole time," she said, scooping Lily up in a big hug. Lily sniffled and buried her face in her mom's shoulder. Her mom gently rocked her back and forth, speaking softly. "You know, math can be tricky sometimes, but that's okay. We can figure it out together. And did you know that tears are special? They help to wash away our sadness and make us feel better." Lily looked up, curious. "Really?" she asked, her voice still shaking. Her mom smiled. "Yes, really! In fact, did you know that humans produce around 30-40 gallons of tears every year? It's true! And our tears are made up of 98% water, 1% mucins, and 1% other substances like lipids and proteins." Lily's eyes widened in amazement. She loved learning new things, and her mom always made it so much fun. Together, Lily and her mom sat back down at the desk and worked on the math problem. With her mom's help, Lily's sadness turned to joy, and she felt proud of herself for figuring it out. As they worked, Lily's mom sang a silly song: "Tears of joy, tears of sadness too, but with math and love, we can figure it through!" Lily giggled and joined in, feeling happy once again.

I leaped into my mom's arms, hugging her tightly. I was so happy to be reunited with her! I didn't want to let her go again. "I was so scared, Mom," I said, my voice muffled by her warm hug. "I love you, baby. I'll never leave you alone again," she promised, her voice filled with tears of joy. We hugged for a long time, feeling happy and relieved to be together again. As we hugged, I noticed the beautiful flowers surrounding us. They were different shapes and colors, and I loved counting them. "Mom, look! There are 5 red flowers, 3 blue ones, and 2 yellow ones," I exclaimed. My mom smiled and said, "That's correct, sweetie! You're so good at math." We sat down on a nearby bench, and my mom pulled out a small bag of art supplies. "Let's draw these flowers together," she suggested. I grinned and we started drawing, using different shapes and colors to create our own magical flower garden. As we drew, my mom told me about the different types of flowers, their names, and how they grow. I listened carefully, feeling happy and safe with my mom by my side.

We were having the best day ever! Mom and I had just finished a yummy snack of apples and cheese, and now we were playing with my favorite toys. I was building a tall tower with blocks while Mom was making a puzzle with shapes. Suddenly, I had an idea. "Mom, can we have a treasure hunt?" I asked excitedly. Mom smiled and said, "What a great idea! Let's hide some clues around the apartment and see who can find them first." We started searching high and low, counting how many steps it took to get from the living room to the kitchen (17, by the way!). As we searched, Mom told me about the different shapes we were finding, like squares, circles, and triangles. I found a clue hidden behind a book on the bookshelf, and Mom found one under the couch cushion. "This is the best day ever, Mom!" I exclaimed. Mom smiled and hugged me. "Mine too, baby. I love spending time with you."