Ma turned 34 in 2002. Really?

Question

My friend said to me:

“In February of the year 1970 at 1:12 AM Ma turned 18. Ma turned 34 in
February of the year 2002 at 2:16 AM. How is this possible?”

“And yes. Same Ma!” he ended with that.
Hint

Specific times are important here

Hint 2

Synonym of Ma   is Mother--- who turns?

Hint 3

Different type of clocks, even silly ones

Karsten Köpnick · Accepted Answer

I guess Ma is

The specific years and the month refer to

The specific times refer to

So:

The only thing that might not add up in this suggested solution is

Addition, after DrD explained:

John L · Answer

Answer

Thomas Blue · Answer

Following John L's logic, one more for the road:

Anonymus 25 · Answer

I have an answer:

xhienne · Answer

Ma turns something

This something

That's why

[Edit] Maybe Ma is

[Edit #2] Following the publication of hint 2, Ma might be

garakchy · Answer

Joe Kerr · Answer

Possibly:

If she did this:

Hint 2:

Hint 3:

I don't know how this fits in with Hint 1 or the clock times, but based on the other clues, I thought it was a plausible idea.

7 Answers