Amber and Tirrell Bethel are both patient care technicians in the medical field who have lived in Baltimore for almost their entire lives.
The couple work night shifts, with Amber Bethel also working as a licensed esthetician, which can make their schedules tricky to balance along with raising 5-year-old twins, Aiden and Jade Jones.
But the pair makes it work with excellent communication and dedication to all areas of their lives.
The experience of parenthood was also unique for Tirrell Bethel, the stepfather of Aiden and Jade, who says that the last three years he’s been involved with their lives has been a transformative experience with plenty of great lessons.
What does the role of PCT involve?
Tirrell: I work primarily in the psych unit, with patients that have mental issues. I will say that there is a lot of meeting patients where they’re at. Because for one, nobody wants to be there. Tensions are already high, so once a patient is already at like a 12, you have to validate their feelings, and then just try to explain things in the way so that everybody’s on the same page, because the last thing we want is any physical issues or any restraints … It really puts things to perspective about the little things that we take for granted, like having a a sound mind, having a healthy body.
Amber: I work my own hours as a PTC, because I also own a business full time. I’m a licensed esthetician, and I’ve been doing that for the last four or five years. A lot of my schedule is, like, making sure the kids [are all set] by getting them ready for school. They are in activities. Our son is in gymnastics. Our daughter is in dance, and we work nights, so it kind of works well with our schedule but also can be a lot because we’re trying to sleep … I work in emergency department, and so it’s a little bit different. I also work with the psych patients in our ED. I’m constantly making sure that people understand you’re being empathetic, and we are trying to have a single wish—for them to either be physically or emotionally better.
What has it been like seeing the kids grow?
Amber: They started pre-K this past school year, and they’re going into kindergarten. Watching them when we go to birthday parties or see them at school talking to their friends, and seeing them develop relationships outside of people that we know immediately has been really rewarding.
Tirrell: Seeing them now versus how they were three years ago was like pretty much day and night. In the beginning, obviously we weren’t as close as we are now. We still butt heads, but they’re 5; that’s what they do. They love to be difficult … We’ve all come to terms with just having patience with each other. I’m learning to be patient with them, because they’re still trying to get their emotions regulated. So, I think that’s something that we implemented great in this household. Just give each other patience and grace, because nobody’s perfect, nobody’s going to have it all together [all the time].
What lessons have you taken from your time as parents and how has it changed over the years?
Amber: With them being a set of twins, they can be a lot, because they’re growing together. Where there might be times where other people would just have one kid at that age, we have two kids that age. With things like potty training and temper tantrums, I’ve just learned to give myself grace but also learned to meet them where they’re at. And with them being twins, they’re very different personalities, very different needs and wants, very different communication styles. So, I’ve just learned to learn who they are as individuals.
Tirrell: Watching them become their own little people is definitely a blessing by itself. In the beginning, I was very skeptical about [everything]. I mean, I never really saw myself as a father figure, let alone taking two kids under my wing. But I learned a lot from them, and I learned a lot about myself through the whole process. So, I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Family Favorites
Movie: “Toy Story”
Activity: Church
Entertainment: YouTube
Holiday: Christmas
Creative Activity: Art (Jade) and building things (Aiden)
