Taking Credit for Others Work

It happened one Sunday evening. My younger daughter brought one beautiful painting and told me that she had painted it. It looked very cute and I admired the work she had done. I took it to my husband who was in the other room and told him that kutty had drawn and painted the beautiful piece I was holding in my hand. Immediately my kutty resisted " She told, Amma I did not do the drawing, it was done by Akka, I only painted it after she had drawn". I was totally bowled over.

She is hardly 3 years old and she does not want to take credit for anything she has not done. I have noted this on many occasions with my kids. They are happy only if I appreciate them for what they have done. They in fact feel sad if I appreciate them or proudly tell others about things which they actually have not done.

But as people grow bigger and in the cut throat competitive world, how many follow this principle. How many want to be credited only for what they have done. How many ever feel that they should not be taking credit for what they have not accomplished actually. Many people shamelessly take the appreciations and compliments for work not done by them. People change as they grow bigger. So mothers ought to ensure that the qualities in children which are so pure need to persist in them as they grow older. But should this quality persist or is it better to develop some bad qualities as per changing times. I am not sure though.