Custom fields on a custom built object are not showing up for any of my users

I am having a problem with my training org (like a sandbox gut not attached to production org).  My job is to take clients through certain processes to help them use the tools of the system.  One of the processes is to build a custom object and then add custom fields to it.  We make the fields visible to everyone.  However when we go to make a record on the end user side, my users cannot see their fields they've just created.  So we have to go to their profile and all the fields are turned off and we have to turn them back on.  I do not know why their fields are automatically being turned off when we purposely make them visible to all permission sets.  The crazy thing is that when I go to look at my profile the fields are also turned off, but I can see all of my fields when I go to make a record.  I've looked at management settings, permission sets, profiles...at a loss here.