Exclusive: Honest mum Kat on being voted the best parenting style on Parental Guidance 2023

It seemed the only person who was shocked Honest mum Kat was declared the winner of Parental Guidance Season 2 was Kat herself.

Upon hearing the news, her 10-year-old son Jesse adorably said, "But mum, we already knew that."

Stream every episode of Season 1 of Parental Guidance for free on 9Now.

For Kat, the honour meant the world. She broke down in tears when she was deemed to have the best parenting style.

"I am so grateful," she said. "I can finally trust my gut instinct."

You can watch the emotional moment she was announced the winner in the video above.

Kat said confidence in her decisions and a newfound appreciation of who she is has helped her style, admitting it has taken her until her late 40s to truly like who she is.

"Isn't that terrible, that it's taken me so long?" she mused in an exclusive chat with 9Entertainment.

"But I'm proud to say I am there, I like myself and who I am and I think that makes me a better parent.

"That... and I also really love and appreciate my kids!"

EPISODE 7 RECAP: Families embark on 'wild' challenge before the winner is announced

Kat was open to feedback throughout the challenges and was always respectful and gentle when offering her opinion to the focus parents. "We all love our kids, and want the best for them," she explained.

"Everyone is coming at things from a different perspective, sure. But that's ultimately driving their decisions."

Throughout the show, Kat experienced a lot of highs but a few crushing lows as well.

The moment her daughter Billy innocently revealed where she lived and then fumbled her way through a chat with her mum afterwards, in an attempt to hide her error, was a gut wrenching reality check.

"But I learned so much from that," Kat said afterwards, adding she and the kids had and continue to have, open conversations about their online activity. Kat has embraced the advice and insight the experts gave her to guide her approach.

There were times Kat's brutal honesty raised a few eyebrows, but she took on board what the panel said and agreed she could perhaps soften her stance. "I've learned it doesn't always have to be black and white," she said. "Sometimes, it's OK to have shades of grey too."

READ MORE: Every one of the Season 2 parenting styles explained

What resonated most strongly with the other parents right from the outset, was Kat's genuine connection with her children.

The panel marvelled that her kids knew exactly what was expected of them at all times. "We would all know how to behave if we were her kids," said Road School mum Amy. "She's firm, she sticks to it, there's no blurred lines... it's brilliant."

Kat's ability to make her kids feel seen and heard is exactly what parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson advises parents to do. "The greatest human need is not to be loved, but to be understood," Justin has said, and for Kat, that works both ways.

She told 9Entertainment that as a single mum, she has no other option but to be straight up with her children. That level of openness isn't just about being blunt when it comes to tricky things though, it also means when Kat tells her kids she loves them and has their back, they know she wholeheartedly means it.

Nowhere was that more evident than in the final extreme family mission. From a disastrous raft ride down a river (which to be fair, was better than many of the other families), to a rollicking map challenge and a night under the stars, the terrific trio bonded together to knock it out of the park.

WATCH: Kids share hilarious responses when asked who's the boss in their house

What clinched the win was the way Kat managed the abseiling challenge. She was completely up front with her two nervous children about what was involved, and pushed them in a gentle but firm manner to give it a go. When their nerves proved too much, Kat reassured them that was fine.

"Please never say sorry to me for not doing something because you don't feel comfortable to do it," she told her two children firmly,

"There's absolutely no shame in not doing it."

The authentic moment left many of the panel parents in tears.

Justin explained what resonated so strongly. Parents are most worried about their children succeeding," he shared with 9Entertainment. "And the great irony is that in order to help our children succeed we keep on stepping in, when we need to step back.

"When you give them autonomy with connection, they go out and build competence. "It's something Kat is doing naturally.

Justin was thrilled to see the enthusiastic and bubbly mum take the crown.

"I was actually just delighted for her," he said simply. "Absolutely, genuinely delighted for her."

Kat is equally as thrilled. "I feel happier with my parenting and my family than ever," she said. "I may not always get it right, but I always do it with love and with my kids' best interests leading the way.

"That, and a whole lot of laughs!"

And there's no better way to sum up Honest parenting.

Stream the latest episodes of Parental Guidance for free on 9Now.