Profile critique please, 45 yo female newbie

Hi everyone, I'm very new (almost 3 weeks) to eharmony and very new (almost 3 weeks! how about that!) to online dating, having been divorced for almost two years now. This is my first time getting "back out there." I have an 8 year old son.

I've tweaked my profile quite a bit and I am pretty happy with it but I would love some constructive criticism/suggestions from those of you who can be far more objective than I am.

Thank you in advance for your help.

So here goes:

Most passionate about:
My son -- he is so smart and bright and funny, and he makes every day better. Hearing about his day, and telling him goodnight and that I love him, even on the days when he is not with me -- those are the things that really matter to me.

Most important thing I'm looking for:
The most important quality I'm looking for is the ability to communicate. Being able to keep those lines of communication open and talking things through -- that's key for me. Also just as important to me is to find someone who is 100% committed to the relationship.

Most influential person:
My son has been the most influential person in my life. He has taught me the ability to love unconditionally and to be loved in that way in return, to take pleasure in simple things, to be less selfish, and to have more patience.

Most thankful for:
My son
My friends
My health

Best life skills:
Using humor to make friends laugh
Raising and/or caring for children
Being a good friend & companion


The one thing I wish more people would notice about me:
I have no rhythm -- seriously, I can't dance, and believe me I've tried. There! Now it's out there!


I can't live without:

• My son
• A good steak -- bone-in ribeye, medium rare
• The Sunday paper
• My DVR (TO WATCH???? Give some specifics)
• Coffee

First thing people notice about me:
My sense of humor. I can be quiet around new people and making other people laugh makes me feel more comfortable and at ease.

Additional info I want you to know:
I have so much to offer as a partner. I am loving, supportive, fun, loyal, smart, energetic, confident, and romantic. I'm in a really good place in my life, I have a great job and great friends, a beautiful home, and of course a wonderful son. But I am really missing an intimate, loving relationship and the companionship that comes along with it.

Typically spend my leisure time:
First and foremost, I'm a mom and most enjoy spending time w/ my son. When I am on my own, I enjoy reading, catching up on tv and movies, going to sporting events and concerts, art festivals, travel, doing projects around the house, spending time with my friends, and I keep fit by swimming and walking my puppy. I also love to cook and am the consummate food snob. I love to entertain and plan everything from big Thanksgiving dinners to small intimate meals for two. Would love to find someone to share my love of cooking; or I am more than happy to do all the cooking if you do the dishes!

Last book read/enjoyed:
Medium Raw, by Anthony Bourdain -- it's about his life in restaurant kitchens and how that transferred into his popular No Reservations show on the Travel Channel. I love his books and his show; he can be raunchy but it is such a good read. I am currently reading the memoir Eating My Words by Mimi Sheraton -- she is the former NY Times restaurant critic. It's a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at her experiences dining in some of the most famous restaurants in the world, and how having what I'd consider to be a dream job is not all that.

My friends describe me as:
Warm
Funny
Caring
Intelligent

Thanks for the feedback so far, it has been extremely helpful. I'm not obsessed w/ my son by any means -- ...

Ok, I'm back, and have made some changes. Please let me know what you think.

Most passionate about:
I'd put other stuff here. Just things you love to do and causes you care about. Maybe put something about your spirituality or your outlook on life in general. And then say you're passionate about taking care of your family. Now I know you're normal! But "passion" and "son" sound a little funny together even though I know what you meant by it. And dating is about your non-maternal side. Your inner wild woman, if you see what I mean. Details about your son can come later. In a conversation.
I am most passionate about being the best mom I can be to my 8-year old son.

Most influential person:
If you want to be consistent about the love of family theme, I'd put an older family member in here too.
The most influential person in my life was a former boss who, through example, taught me to always treat people with kindness and respect if you expect the same from them in return. I try to live my life that way every day, even when the kindness and respect are not always reciprocal.

Most thankful for:
My family and friends
My health
My career
I'd end the list with something silly and unexpected. To spark conversation. But that's just me. This is great.

Can’t live without:
Love this part. Love love love it!! Is there a way to lead with it? It shows real life details about you that make you interesting.
A good steak (bone-in ribeye, medium rare)
The Sunday paper
Coffee
The sight of my puppy’s happy face when I get home
My DVR, when I can’t catch my favorite shows

Typically spend my time:
Excellent!
Enjoy reading, catching up on tv/movies, sporting events (go Wings!), concerts, art festivals, travel (love cruises), dining out (sushi, Lolo’s, Five Guys) & spending time w/friends. Keep fit doing laps in my pool & daily walks w/my dog (have an 11-month old Cavachon, my first dog ever! Maybe one day I’ll trust him to go outside by himself & not destroy my yard). Also love to cook (specialties include double chocolate cheesecake, almond roca, mac&cheese) & am a total food snob. Love to entertain & plan everything from Thanksgiving to intimate meals for 2. Would love to find someone to share my love of cooking, or I’ll do the cooking if you do the dishes!

Additional info I want you to know:
Beautiful!
I have so much to offer as a partner. I am loving, supportive, fun (and funny -- my friends say I’m a hoot), loyal, smart, confident, and romantic. I’m in a really good place in my life, I have a great job, great friends, a beautiful home, and a wonderful kid. But I am really missing an intimate, loving relationship and the companionship that comes along with it.

Most passionate about:
My son -- he is so smart and bright and funny, and he makes every day better. Hearing about his day, and telling him goodnight and that I love him, even on the days when he is not with me -- those are the things that really matter to me.


I close for having children, but I would close for this answer even if I was okay with children.

This answer does not distinguish you in any way from all the other millions of people with children!

This is your profile on a dating site - and the content needs to make you an appealing, sexy, fun, healthy person.


Most important thing I'm looking for:
The most important quality I'm looking for is the ability to communicate. Being able to keep those lines of communication open and talking things through -- that's key for me. Also just as important to me is to find someone who is 100% committed to the relationship.


Don't bother to restate the question.

I would get rid of the "100% committed" part - that's just baggage. Better would be to use the parts further down in your profile to describe yourself, in ways you think such men would be drawn toward.


Most influential person:
My son has been the most influential person in my life. He has taught me the ability to love unconditionally and to be loved in that way in return, to take pleasure in simple things, to be less selfish, and to have more patience.


I personally prefer an answer which indicates a more motivational or aspirational person - so an occupational or educational answer is best.

This is a bad answer, in that each of these phrases implies your default behavior is quite unattractive (i.e., selfish, impatient, etc); I'd rewrite this completely to get rid of that implication.

Perhaps it would work to state more directly the things you enjoy now which you became involved in due to having a child?

For instance, instead of writing "take pleasure in simple things," which suggests you were materialistic previously, consider something like "I rediscovered the pleasure of watching children play baseball."

This seems less risky to me - and has the added advantage of giving a match who likes baseball, or sport, or fitness, an extra motivation to communicate.


Most thankful for:
My son
My friends
My health


Too repetitive and generic.

If you answer doesn't show you as a unique individual, it's a bad answer.


Best life skills:
Using humor to make friends laugh
Raising and/or caring for children
Being a good friend & companion


If you want to claim humor, make your matches laugh. If you can't, don't claim it at all.


The one thing I wish more people would notice about me:
I have no rhythm -- seriously, I can't dance, and believe me I've tried. There! Now it's out there!


Jeez! This isn't even an answer.

Creativity isn't easy, I know, but this needs some inspiration to come with a better answer.



I can't live without:

• My son
• A good steak -- bone-in ribeye, medium rare
• The Sunday paper
• My DVR
• Coffee

First thing people notice about me:
My sense of humor. I can be quiet around new people and making other people laugh makes me feel more comfortable and at ease.

Additional info I want you to know:
I have so much to offer as a partner. I am loving, supportive, fun, loyal, smart, energetic, confident, and romantic. I'm in a really good place in my life, I have a great job and great friends, a beautiful home, and of course a wonderful son. But I am really missing an intimate, loving relationship and the companionship that comes along with it.


This answer sounds overweight. I would definitely fix that.


Typically spend my leisure time:
First and foremost, I'm a mom and most enjoy spending time w/ my son. When I am on my own, I enjoy reading, catching up on tv and movies, going to sporting events and concerts, art festivals, travel, doing projects around the house, spending time with my friends, and I keep fit by swimming and walking my puppy. I also love to cook and am the consummate food snob. I love to entertain and plan everything from big Thanksgiving dinners to small intimate meals for two. Would love to find someone to share my love of cooking; or I am more than happy to do all the cooking if you do the dishes!

Last book read/enjoyed:
Medium Raw, by Anthony Bourdain -- it's about his life in restaurant kitchens and how that transferred into his popular No Reservations show on the Travel Channel. I love his books and his show; he can be raunchy but it is such a good read. I am currently reading the memoir Eating My Words by Mimi Sheraton -- she is the former NY Times restaurant critic. It's a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at her experiences dining in some of the most famous restaurants in the world, and how having what I'd consider to be a dream job is not all that.


An appealing, unusual answer.


My friends describe me as:
Warm
Funny
Caring
Intelligent