Women can be hard to read. We tend to hide our feelings and put on a happy face. So here are six clues to tell how well - or not so well - your wife's day has gone.

1. The state of the house

A lot of women like to have the house at least picked up before their husband comes home. It may not be spotless, and she may not be able to vacuum every day, but at least the kids' toys are put away, things are put back into place and you can walk on the carpet without stepping on random messes. If you come home to a disastrous house, it is a sure sign that your wife has had a bad day. Obviously she did not have the time or energy to pick up, meaning her time was probably focused on breaking up fights, doing work that took longer than expected or taking care of unforeseen problems that occurred.

2. What you eat for dinner

Coming home to pizza, mac and cheese or something from a restaurant is a good indication that your wife's day has been a rough one.

3. If she is still wearing her pajamas

If your wife is still wearing what she woke up in when you arrive home, that's not a good sign. Not getting dressed usually means she is not feeling well, she's overly exhausted or just had one of those days where getting dressed was simply not in the cards.

4. The look on her face

Are you usually greeted with a smile and a kiss upon returning home? If instead you are greeted with a look of stress, worry or possibly tears, then something is wrong. Take this as a sign that your wife will need to vent to you about what is going on.

5. What the kids are doing

My husband works the swing shift, so by the time he gets home the kids have been in bed for hours already. If they are still up when he walks in the door then he knows something is up. If your kids are usually playing or doing homework upon your return, and they are not on a particular day, that is a sign something may have gone wrong throughout the day - something possibly happened to disrupt the normal flow.

6. She straight up tells you

Your wife may just tell you she had the worst day ever. This is usually her way of reaching out for support. Women are not usually so direct, which unfortunately results in us lashing out in some other way; for example, yelling at the kids, giving you the cold shoulder or even breaking down in tears for what seems like no reason. So take her telling you as a sign that she is at her limit and needs some comfort ASAP.

If you experience any of these signs upon returning home, be prepared for damage control. Stop your wife from whatever she is doing and genuinely ask her how her day was. Let her tell you what happened, give her a hug and reassure her that she is still a great mom and wonderful wife. Don't take this as your opportunity to point out what she could have done differently, or give her advice on how to "fix" things; just listen. She does not need a lecture and definitely doesn't want her faults pointed out. This is a time to comfort, support and love her.