Who Is This Child?

So, I’m planning on taking my 9-year-old son on his first backpacking trip next week. I’m in the habit of testing my gear before a trip. I thought I’d include my son in this ritual. Last night, I was teaching him how to use the backpacking stove.

Me: You take this bottle and pump it up and down like this. I don’t know why you have to do this or how it works, but eventually it gets harder to pump up and down. That’s when you know it’s ready to connect and you can light the stove.

Son: [nod] Yeah, it’s like a piston.

Me: [blank stare] [blink] [blink]