Give your cranky wife just a little bit more affection than normal. It may seem like a difficult thing to do after yelling, screaming or throwing dishes, but chances are she just needs a little love to make everything all right. Consider doing something small, but special, like buying her favorite ice cream, making dinner or cleaning the toilet.

Make it known that you are ready and willing to chat, but give her some space to let her deal with her emotions and come to you when she is ready. Some days a wife just needs to be alone, but even then the fact that you are willing to listen if she needs it is a great help to her. Other days a wife just needs a shoulder to cry on, even if it seems to you it is for no apparent reason.

Take the kids, (if you have them,) out for ice cream and video games and give Mom some time to relax alone in a peaceful house. If possible, clean the toilet before you go.

Think about how you feel when you are cranky, and avoid cracking jokes, telling her that her feelings are stupid or even worse, getting cranky yourself. Yes, this is easier said than done, but acting like a cool, calm gentleman is the best way to deal with a cranky wife.

Tell her that you are sorry, on the off chance that something you did may be the reason she's cranky. Again, there is no use arguing or trying to justify your actions, just say that you are sorry.