In the Gemoroh which says if a mother and father asks for a glass of water -- the father should get first because "she is obligated to honor her husband as well" (I am quoting from memory which is not so good).
Is there a source which says that the wife is obligated to honor a husband? (Is there a greater obligation for a wife to honor husband than a husband has to honor wife?)
If she is short -- bend down and listen? -- I think this is in some gm. Also, I think, Rambam mentions that there are mutual obligations to "respect" but, respect might not be the halachic "honor" --ie feed, drink, not to contradict, sit in seat, stand in place etc)
I apologize that I did not check the exact wording of sources.
Thank you.
Aurel Littman
The Rambam (Hilchos Ishus 15:19-20) tells us that our Sages commanded both the men to honor their wives and the women to honor their husbands. Nevertheless, the Rambam adds to the woman's commandment that she should do everything that her husband asks her to do. That would explain the Gemara, that you quote, that the child should do his father's bidding first.
The source of the Rambam is the Gemara in Megilah (12b) that says that even the weaver in his own house is like a nobleman. The ultimate source, though, seems to be a universally accepted norm that "each man is a ruler in his own house" (Esther 1:22). The Gemara (ibid) says that King Achashverosh was taken to be a fool by the general population for commanding them to do something (that women should listen to their husbands) that was so obvious.
The Gemara about "bending down and whispering to your wife" is in Bava Metzia (59a).
Kol Tuv,
Yonasan Sigler