What should the texture of cooked oatmeal be like?

I grew up with the instant oatmeal packets, and like my father made them when I was little, I use as little liquid as possible and I like it very solid and with no extra moisture. That’s what I’m used to. Recently though, it was pointed out to me that aside from the excess sugar, most of the nutrients are processed right out of the instant stuff in the packets, and I would do better to buy the regular oats that you cook on the stove.

That’s all well and dandy, but when I made it this morning, it seemed very gelatinous, and absolutely NOTHING like the instant oatmeal that I love. Is this the norm, or something I can change by altering the amount of liquid, cook time, etc.? I don’t want to give up just yet but if it’s supposed to be like the jiggly slop I ended up with this morning, no thank you!