Ok so in our house we have a Glock 36. A nice shiny Glock 36. We would love more weapons, but right now that is all we have. Both my husband and I have our CHL. We have been working it like this. If we go out as a family he carries the glock I carry the pocket knife and the pepper spray. When just I go out or when I am at home the Glock stays with me (can't run as fast as he can with 3 kids being pregnant). However of late I have had tons of trouble getting the glock to conceal on body (strange pregnant curves that change all the time), and it is too hot for a serious cover garment. I keep trying different things--I can't carry in a purse because that would not be safe with preschoolers around.
What is even worse is that all the various methods I have tried--belly band, IWB with the largest pair of jeans I have, a fanny pack holster (looked terrible anyway) are now causing back pain--not oww I am sore kind of pain-- but time to take to your bed sort of back pain (old back injury that gets real angry when I am out of balance). So this is what I am faced with right now. I prefer carrying a .45, I prefer shooting a .45, but the weight of the .45 is going to make me leave it at home. We won't be able to buy another handgun for at least a month or so, even a little inexpensive one (budget constraints and two $1,000 house and care repairs in the past two months have bled us dry.) So for the next month I am back to my back up of a pepper spray and a pocket knife (better than nothing).
Looking to the future, I looked at a gun store and felt several different weapons in a few calibers--mostly looking at the weight and size of the weapon. I think I am stuck with a .380--I won't go below that and it seemed that I could definitely find a place to carry those things no matter how round I got and they don't look heavy. Do yall have any recommendations on weapons, encouragement, or advise on my situation.