I wish I could remember who pointed me to Mabel’s Labels so that I could throw my arms around her (or him), plant a big, wet one on her (or his) cheek, and ask, “Now, who are you again?”

As summer camp went into full swing and I got a preview of the school year to come, I went into a labeling frenzy. Each child has two backpacks, several pairs of shoes, a frazillion sweatshirts, and, apparently, no homework folders (or, for that matter, homework. But that’s a whole other post.). I dread seeing them coming home with fewer layers then they had on when they left that morning, or sans folder/binder/ Al Gore’s “lock box” securing their homework and other vital papers to guarantee them admittance to the Fantasy Faire, Pumpkin Patch, or the lunch line.

Enter the labels.

I clicked through the site, thinking, “Oh! I need sticky labels. Wait! Maybe the clothing labels. No, maybe the luggage tags are more durable.” And then… and then! I saw the Ultimate Combo Pack. Back then it was the Summer Camp Pack, and now it’s the Back to School Pack, but never you mind that because YOU NEED THIS PACK.

The Ultimate Back-to-School Combo is the first combo to include Skinny-Mini™ labels, which are ideal for small school supplies and stationary products. This Combo has been designed by customers, to provide the ideal back-to-school pack! It includes 40 Skinny-Minis™, 50 Tag-Mates™, 16 Shoe Labels and 2 Bag Tags.

I’ve now got luggage tags on each backpack. Sticky tags on… I’m not sure what but I handed a few out and was assured they were affixed to something valuable. I haven’t talked them into the shoe labels yet because they are SO FOR BABIES, but I’ve seen the prices on those shoes so I will insist on a select few. Also? I will not, with a capital WILL NOT, lose another Hanna Andersson Survivor Jacket this year. This is my solemn vow.

Just as I chose different colors for my kids’ jackets, I chose different colors for each child’s labels: Teal, red, pink. Maroon for family things. I keep them all in a special box on the counter that no one but me would open. It’s battered, made of tin, and is hand-painted. It reads, “‘That best portion of good man’s life, His little nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.’ —William Wordsworth.’”

Indeed.