After finding mud tracks in the kitchen and a missing piñata, Maria shrugged and said, "boys will be boys," accepting that it is often futile to try to curb their mischief.

Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle — she actually solved the puzzle in under five minutes.

When the argument started to die down, I decided to let it be rather than intervene.

When we were offered secondhand furniture for free after the move, beggars can't be choosers, so we accepted it gratefully.

Far be it from me to criticize your choices, but you might want to think this through.

You'd better be there or be square for Jenna's farewell party this Saturday — it won't be the same without you.

The plan, to be sure, has its risks, but the potential rewards are significant.

If you feel a fever coming on, don't go to work; you could be sick and spread it to others.

The nervous father-to-be practiced swaddling the doll before the prenatal class.

The new model often tries to be like the original, but with subtle improvements.