Why is Mrs. Jordan unhappy with her life in the novel, Walker Brothers Cowboy?

Mrs. Jordan continually expresses her discontentment with the present status of her family. She denigrates her husband's job, refuses to allow her children to play with the neighbors' children, and overall finds nothing redemptive in their present life. She lives in the past, fondly recalling prior days of tranquility and greater wealth, and she tries to draw her daughter into these fantasies. She also also resists any attempts at enjoying her life, such as when her husband tells funny stories about his sales calls, but occasionally even she can't help but laugh.