Dear Abby: Trusted teen feels entitled to parent-free concert trip

DEAR ABBY:

I'm a 16-year-old girl. My parents have always trusted me and given me freedom because they know I can handle it.

I want to attend a concert in a bigger town with a friend. However, my parents insist I must have an adult with me. I feel I'm responsible enough to go to the concert without one. How can I convince my parents?

- Can Handle It in Oregon

DEAR CAN HANDLE IT: Your parents want to be sure you are safe. Although they trust you to act responsibly, they may not be so confident about other fans in the audience. Please don't take your parents' stance on this personally. They are trying to protect you.

DEAR ABBY: If I tell my wife I'm going to clean the bathroom today, but I don't manage to get it done because I was busy with other things, is that considered breaking a promise even though I didn't use the word "promise"?

- A Matter of Semantics

DEAR SEMANTICS: Not exactly. If you tell your wife you are going to clean the bathroom today and don't get around to it, that is frustrating, aggravating and irresponsible. But if she responds to your statement, "Is that a promise?" and you say yes - THAT'S a promise.