Matt Connelly holding his son, Declan. Submitted photo

For Matt Connelly, fatherhood has come with an overwhelming sense of peace, one that he didn’t fully anticipate until he held his son for the first time.

“You don’t think about anything else,” said the 33-year-old Summit Township resident. “Just finally getting to hold him, after waiting and waiting, it was just like, ‘He’s finally here.’”

Connelly, who welcomed his son, Declan, four months ago with his wife, Taylor, said the experience of becoming a father has altered his life perspective.

“Everything you do, you think, ‘How is this going to affect my family?’” he said. “It’s family first now, always.”

Despite a significant life change, Connelly admits the transition has gone smoother than expected. He said his son is a joyful baby who eats and sleeps well, which makes the challenges, such as a slightly disrupted sleep schedule, far more manageable.

There’s little time to rest, however. His family has developed a rhythm that works, and both Matt and Taylor split the responsibilities evenly.

“We both kind of do everything when it needs done,” he said.

Mondays have grown especially meaningful. That’s his day off and a chance to spend the entire day with his son. It’s a switch-up from the usual routine, but it never fails to offer up a special highlight.

“My favorite part of the day is coming home after work and seeing him,” Connelly said.

Looking in the not-too-distant future, Connelly said he’s thought about the moment when Declan takes his first steps.

“I can’t wait to take him outside,” he said. “That’s what I did growing up — play catch, shoot basketball, do yard work. I was always outside with my parents. I really want to share that with him.”

The new dad also hopes to pass down some of the same life lessons he learned from his own father.

“He taught me so much — fixing things, yard work, just general life advice,” Connelly said. “I definitely want to do the same.”

His best advice for other new or expecting dads is to take everything in stride.

“Don’t sweat the small stuff. Just enjoy them at the stage they’re in. He’ll only be this age once.”

That mindset has helped him embrace the messy and unpredictable events that can come with an increased number of responsibilities.

“The biggest lesson so far? Patience,” he said. “Dishes can wait. Your family comes first.”

As his first Father’s Day quickly approaches, Connelly said the celebration might not be anything extravagant, but that’s just fine with him. He’s yet to process what it all means, but the summer months may give him a chance to savor the moment.

“It all still feels like a dream,” he said. “It just doesn’t feel real yet.”