Dear Heloise: I read your hints all the time in our newspaper in Houston, and I’d like to ask your opinion about homeschooling versus public schools. My husband wants me to quit my job and homeschool our twin boys.

They’ll be starting first grade this fall. I’d rather work at my job that I enjoy and send them to a private school rather than a public one for high school.

To me, it seems that school does more than teach subjects; it teaches kids to accept other people who are different from them. It also teaches teamwork, friendships are established, and compromise is learned.

I worry that I will become resentful if I stay home all day and give up work that I truly enjoy and trained for, which is now paying me a nice salary. Am I being selfish? We’ve gone back and forth on this subject. Got any hints to help us make up our minds? — Tammy M., in Houston

Tammy, I’ve received letters over the years both for and against homeschooling, so I always ask my readers what they think and what their experiences have been like when homeschooling their own children.

I’ve know couples who homeschooled their children and loved it, while others hated the experience. Not everyone is cut out to teach or has a talent for it. You might want to talk to people who homeschool their children and see what they say. Just be sure to ask at lease three or four people and get a wider range of opinions. — Heloise

HIDING VALUABLES

Dear Heloise: I’ve worked in home security for over 23 years, and I never cease to be amazed at how clever thieves have become. Outwitting them is a real challenge, but it can be done. Here are some places where you shouldn’t hide your valuables:

— Everyone seems to think that hiding their valuables in the master bedroom is the safest place, but it’s the first room thieves go to. Find someplace else.

— Thieves will flip your mattress, cut up your sofa cushions, and rip your dresser drawers apart looking for things that they can sell. Keep in mind that the cookie jar is never safe, and neither is the freezer, inside of a shoe or boot, a medicine cabinet, or even a locked desk drawer. Some thieves even use a handheld metal detector.

— Think suitcases are a safe place? Think again. Hiding money between the pages of a book? Thieves will shake the books looking for cash. I had one case where a thief tore open a box of sanitary napkins looking for hidden cash.

— An in-ground safe that is cemented into the floor’s foundation is possibly the safest place to store valuables. I won’t say it’s burglar-proof, but it can’t be easily picked up and taken.

— There is also a bank vault that you can rent, which is good for items that you don’t need on a regular basis.

— Get creative if you want to protect your jewelry. Go to a spy shop or somewhere else that can advise you on ways to keep your things safe. — Thomas D., Hollywood, Florida

A CHEESY IDEA

Dear Heloise: When I tried to grate cheese, I always made a mess. Finally, I tried freezing the cheddar, and it was much easier to grate it (and nearly any kind of cheese) after it was frozen. — L.W., in Indiana

EMERGENCY INFORMATION

Dear Heloise: To assist my family when I pass, I made a list of all my contacts, including friends, organizations, credit card companies, subscriptions, automatic payments, medical contacts, insurance contacts, licenses, library cards, etc. I included the account and contact number, plus the response rate. This list is on my computer and printed in a notebook, both of which I can grab if I have to flee from a fire or flood. It’s astounding how complex our lives have become. — Nancy, in Houston

CURBING FOOD WASTE

Dear Heloise: I was dismayed to read recently that the United States discards nearly 60 million tons (120 billion pounds) of food each year, which is more than any other country. Since I have trouble reading expiration dates, I have adopted the practice of marking the expiration date (or “use by” date) with black marker on the label of the product as soon as I bring it home from the store. This way, I can easily rotate my food and use the oldest first.

Items I cannot use that haven’t yet expired get donated to my local food pantry. I also encourage people to familiarize themselves with the “best by” date versus the “use by” dates. Many canned items are good several years after the printed date on the can. (Google has an excellent source of this information by product.) — Sam S., in St. Louis

GRAB BAR HINT

Dear Heloise: I have grab bars in my shower, and I learned you can wrap them with strips that are used to grip the shower floor. This will keep your hands from slipping, especially if they’re soapy. — M.B., Temple, Texas