When you start planning for college, you will be reminded over and over again that you’re about to enter the “real world.” People often warn you about the not-so-fun part of being an adult that includes being responsible for yourself.

Although, you may try to mentally prepare there will be moments of sudden realization that you’re on your own. Some will simply be mundane, little things, and others will unexpectedly cut directly to your heart, and remind you with a sudden smack in the face or punch in your gut, of your family, that you are now away from home and without your family. There will be both daily and larger, important tasks that you’ll realize you either have no idea how to do or no desire to do alone.

Welcome to adulthood.

1. Shopping for yourself.

The grocery store seems a bit overwhelming the first time you attempt this, either because it's different than your hometown's shopping center or because you never payed super close attention to how your mom mastered the art of filling a cart with each item on her list in under an hour. This is another activity that's not such a big deal after the first time, unless you’re at number three and trying to prepare a meal and you have no idea what all ingredients you need or where to locate them -- Mom to the rescue again. The nice thing about this moment is that you probably won't be alone, and with your roommates or other barely legal friends, you will look and functioned like a mismatched, semi-clueless little family.

2. Budgeting.

Along with shopping for yourself, you have to keep in mind how much you want to spend. And it's not just the money spent on food at the store, you'll have to manage how much you go out to eat and how many new pairs of shoes or jeans you can buy. The trick here is to put necessity over want, and not to rely heavily on a credit card; you will have to pay it off someday (and it's much easier to build good credit by making small purchases and paying them off right away). Part-time jobs really help.

3. Cooking an actual meal.

I'm not talking about mac and cheese, PB and J, or ramen noodles. There will be a moment that you want to use your stove for more than scrambled eggs, and you'll realize that you may never have cooked meat or vegetables before, let alone all by yourself, at the same time. It's not really that hard, but it's fair game to call your mom and ask for help during this moment. Also, make sure to tell her that you now especially appreciate her cooking skills, not to mention the speed she does those dishes with.

4. Getting a pet.

This moment results from missing your cat so much that you decide to get a cat, but then don’t because you realize you’d be entirely responsible for it. So, instead, you and your roommates get a turtle -- it's simple to take care of like a fish, but cuter.

5. Trying to fix or clean something difficult.

There will be a moment where something breaks or a huge mess is made, whether from an out-of-hand get-together with friends or pure accident, and you have no idea how to fix it. You just know that it needs to be fixed, or you're going to face some kind of fine or worse consequence. Again, your parents come in handy for this one; they've been there and probably have some tips.

6. Dealing with conflicts.

Whether it's between friends, coworkers, classmates, even bosses or teachers, there will be a moment of conflict that arises. Sure, we've all dealt with these things in high school, but then, you had friends, family, maybe even a teacher or two to ask for advice. The best thing to do is remember advice that you've gotten from previous experiences, and maybe reach out to one of those people again if the situation is still over your head.

7. Taking care of yourself when you’re sick.

This one is the worst; there's nothing like that moment of realizing that you are the one who's going to be cleaning your vomit off the carpet, in between your trips to the bathroom, because there's no way your roommates are going to, nor would you ask them to.

8. Making an important decision.

Trying to make important plans like your schedule for next semester can be extremely stressful. It involves a lot of planning ahead, and honestly, just hope for the best. Consider as many details as you can, and make the best decision based on those. Remember, that there's no way to predict everything in life, and also, that things tend to work exactly how they're supposed to.

9. Getting lost.

Traveling alone can be stressful too; there's nothing like trying to figure out which bus or train you need to take, and not having anyone else around to ask. There may be a kind stranger, but it can be embarrassing to point out your lack of experience. Do what you need to do to get there safely, and remember that at least you'll know what you're doing next time.

10. Being greeted by a stranger.

Even with a nice Lyft or Uber driver helping you with your luggage, it will be a depressing shock to end your trip without a hug from your mom, your dad taking care of your luggage, and your cat or dog waiting to greet you at the door. Just take a deep breath and make the walk to your dorm or apartment, and remember your new little family of roommates are waiting for you.

11. Missing family holiday gatherings.

This one sucks. Hopefully, you can manage to make it home for the bigger holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, but there will be a time when you will at least miss a smaller holiday. Work and school schedules tend not to work around days like Easter, so you may spend it on the bus or train instead of with your family.

12. Missing family trips.

This follows the same thread as number 11; it sucks when you desperately need to be on a beach somewhere, but you can't go, and your family goes without you. Just start planning your own trips with friends.

13. Your to-do list is never ending.

It started with a few homework assignments and then progressed to work-related things, travel details, paying bills, etc. The only way to deal with this continual problem is to accomplish a few things a day, and take a break or vacation when you really need to. This is basically the definition of being an adult, so try to accept it.

Becoming an adult involves a lot of firsts, and the best way to deal with those is to look to parents or other adults in your life who have done them before. Adulthood also involves uncomfortable, sometimes sad, frustrating, and overwhelming moments. The key is to tackle them each as best you can, and remember that everyone else has to go through the same moments.